Gage R&R

The Gage R&R is a tool used in the Measure phase of a Six Sigma project. The R's represent Repeatability and Reproducibility.

Before the data analysis phase begins, the Six Sigma GB/BB should understand the variation caused by the measurement system (devices) and be able to quantify this variation. 

The remaining variation is due to the process and the is the variation that the team originally intended to resolve.

To exaggerate in an effort to make a point, it is possible that a Six Sigma project was originally scoped due to high variation and out of control performance. However, early on in the Measure phase the Six Sigma GB/BB finds out that most of the variation is from the measurement system and not the process!

There are cases when the measurement system creates too much variation (based on subjective decision of the company) and fixing the measurement system alone becomes a Six Sigma project or a Kaizen Event

If the measurement system is negatively impacting the Voice of the Customer, then it is every bit as important to fix and control as the process variation itself.

There is a third analysis that is involved and that is the appraiser assessments compared to a master known value when there are known master values. In summary there are three evaluations:

  1. Repeatability - compares each appraisers own readings
  2. Reproducibility - compares appraiser reading to each other
  3. Master Value - compares appraisers' readings to a known master value

The first two can be very tight where each appraiser mirrors each others' results (reproducibility) and each appraiser repeats his/her own assessment (repeatability) but both situations may not match the master known or correct value. 

Therefore, it's necessary to have them accurate and precise where all three of the above are met to a certain criteria. The first two bullets have to do with "precision" but the last bullet has to do with "accuracy". 


Repeatability

Repeatability is the capability of the gage (a.k.a. the measurement system which could be a gage, an appraiser, inspector, or measurer) generating the same exact result every time measuring the same thing more than one time.

How well does the appraiser repeat their own measurement?

Perhaps that appraiser get the exact same result but that results if off the true actual value the same amount each time. This indicates that the gage itself has a calibration problem that first needs to be resolved.

Reproducibility

Reproducibility compares the measurement of one appraiser to other appraiser(s) measuring the same object using the same gage.

The term "among" is used when explaining reproducibility since it relays information about the measurements among all the appraisers. 

What is the capability of each appraiser getting the same exact measurement on the same part using the same gage?

How well do they reproduce each others' resulting measurements on each part?



Practice Exam question

Which of the following devices are examples of attribute measurement devices?

A) Plug gages

B) Calipers

C) Dial indicators

D) Limit length gages

E) Micrometers


Answer: A & D. The others are considered variable measurement devices. 


Return to the MEASURE Phase

Visit Measurement System Analysis

Six Sigma / Lean Practice Exam

Templates, Tables, and Calculators

Return to the home page


Custom Search


Site Membership
LEARN MORE


Six Sigma

Templates, Tables & Calculators


Six Sigma Slides

CLICK HERE

Green Belt Program (1,000+ Slides)

Basic Statistics

Cost of Quality

SPC

Process Mapping

Capability Studies

MSA

SIPOC

Cause & Effect Matrix

FMEA

Multivariate Analysis

Central Limit Theorem

Confidence Intervals

Hypothesis Testing

T Tests

1-Way ANOVA

Chi-Square

Correlation

Regression

Control Plan

Kaizen

MTBF and MTTR

Project Pitfalls

Error Proofing

Z Scores

OEE

Takt Time

Line Balancing

Yield Metrics

Sampling Methods

Data Classification

Practice Exam

... and more



Statistics in Excel


Need a Gantt Chart?

Click here to get this template