Measurement System Analysis (MSA)

Purpose
If measurements are used to guide decisions, then it follows logically that the more error there
is in the measurements, the more error there will be in the decisions based on those
measurements. The purpose of Measurement System Analysis is to qualify a
measurement system for use by quantifying its accuracy, precision, and stability.
An example from industry serves to illustrate the importance of measurement system quality:
A manufacturer of building products was struggling to improve process yields, which had a
significant impact on product cost. Experience indicated that there were several process and
environmental characteristics that influenced the process yield. Data were collected on each of
the variables believed to be significant, followed by regression and correlation analysis to
quantify the relationships in statistical terms.
The results showed no clear correlation between anything - in spite of years of anecdotal
evidence to the contrary! In fact, the underlying strong correlation between variables was
confounded by excessive error in the measurement system. When the measurement systems
were analyzed, many were found to exhibit error variation 2-3 times wider than the actual
process spread. Measurements that were being used to control processes were often leading
to adjustments that actually increased variation! People were doing their best, making things
worse.
As you can see from this example, Measurement System Analysis is a critical first step that
should precede any data-based decision making, including Statistical Process Control,
Correlation and Regression Analysis, and Design of Experiments. The following discussion
provides a broad overview of Measurement System Analysis, along with a spreadsheet
analytical tool that can be downloaded (Gage R&R Worksheet) .
Characterization
A measurement system can be characterized, or described, in five ways:
Location (Average Measurement Value vs. Actual Value):
Stability refers to the capacity of a measurement system to produce the same values over
time when measuring the same sample. As with statistical process control charts, stability
means the absence of "Special Cause Variation", leaving only "Common Cause Variation"
(random variation).
Bias, also referred to as Accuracy, is a measure of the distance between the average value
of the measurements and the "True" or "Actual" value of the sample or part. See the
illustration below for further explanation.
Linearity is a measure of the consistency of Bias over the range of the measurement
device. For example, if a bathroom scale is under by 1.0 pound when measuring a 150
pound person, but is off by 5.0 pounds when measuring a 200 pound person, the scale Bias
is non-linear in the sense that the degree of Bias changes over the range of use.
Variation (Spread of Measurement Values - Precision):
Repeatability assesses whether the same appraiser can measure the same part/sample
multiple times with the same measurement device and get the same value.
Reproducibility assesses whether different appraisers can measure the same part/sample
with the same measurement device and get the same value.
The diagram below illustrates the difference between the terms "Accuracy" and "Precision":
 Efforts to improve measurement system quality are aimed at improving both accuracy and
precision.

Figure 1:

Requirements
Following are general requirements of all capable measurement systems:
Statistical stability over time.
Variability small compared to the process variability.
Variability small compared to the specification limits (tolerance).
The resolution, or discrimination of the measurement device must be small relative to the
smaller of either the specification tolerance or the process spread (variation). As a rule of
thumb, the measurement system should have resolution of at least 1/10th the smaller of
either the specification tolerance or the process spread. If the resolution is not fine enough,
process variability will not be recognized by the measurement system, thus blunting its
effectiveness.
Measurement Systems Analysis Fundamentals
1. Determine the number of appraisers, number of sample parts, and the number of repeat
readings. Larger numbers of parts and repeat readings give results with a higher confidence
level, but the numbers should be balanced against the time, cost, and disruption involved.
2. Use appraisers who normally perform the measurement and who are familiar with the
equipment and procedures.
3. Make sure there is a set, documented measurement procedure that is followed by all
appraisers.
4. Select the sample parts to represent the entire process spread. This is a critical
point. If the process spread is not fully represented, the degree of measurement error may
be overstated.
5. If applicable, mark the exact measurement location on each part to minimize the impact of
within-part variation (e.g. out-of-round).
6. Ensure that the measurement device has adequate discrimination/resolution, as discussed in
the Requirements section.
7. Parts should be numbered, and the measurements should be taken in random order so that
the appraisers do not know the number assigned to each part or any previous measurement
value for that part. A third party should record the measurements, the appraiser, the trial
number, and the number for each part on a table.
Stability Assessment
1. Select a part from the middle of the process spread and determine its reference value
relative to a traceable standard. If a traceable standard is not available, measure the part
 ten times in a controlled environment and average the values to determine the Reference
Value. This part/sample will be designated as the Master Sample .
2. Over at least twenty periods (days/weeks), measure the master sample 3 to 5 times. Keep
the number of repeats fixed. Take readings throughout the period to capture the natural
environmental variation.
3. Plot the data on an x & R chart - consult the Statistical Process Control section of the
Toolbox and calculate control limits.
4. Evaluate the control chart for statistical control. Again, consult the Statistical Process Control
section of the Toolbox for assistance with this assessment.
Bias Assessment
1. Subtract the reference value from x to yield the Bias:

Bias = x - Reference Value

Process Variation = 6 Standard Deviations (Sigma)

2. Calculate the Bias percentage:

Bias Percentage = Bias / Process Variation

3. Analyze the results. If there is a relatively high value, examine the following potential root
causes:
Appraisers not following the measurement procedure
An error in measuring the Reference Value
Instability in the measurement. If the SPC chart shows a trend, the measurement device
could be wearing or calibration could be drifting.
Repeatability and Reproducibility Assessment (Gage
R&R):
This discussion refers to the data collection sheet sample that follows as Figure 2. You can
download the data collection and analysis spreadsheet at the end of this section. Follow the
steps below to conduct a Gage R&R study:
1. Determine the number of appraisers, trials, and parts, which may vary from study to study.
A rule of thumb is 2-3 appraisers, 2-3 trials, and 5-10 parts - with 10 being greatly
preferred. The downloadable MoreSteam.com spreadsheet will accommodate any
combination within this range. In this example we will use 2 appraisers, 3 trials, and 10
parts.
2. Identify three appraisers who are all trained in the proper measurement procedure and
identify them as A, B & C.
3. Fill in the yellow blanks at the top of the form with the required background information
(Gage Type, Date, etc.). Also fill in the blank at the bottom of the form asking for the total
specification tolerance.
4. Collect ten parts that represents the range of process variation. If the parts don't vary as
much as the process, the gage error will be overstated.
5. Identify each part with a number 1-10 in such a way that the appraisers can not see the
numbers as they take the measurements.
6. Please refer to the data collection chart below. You will see that appraiser A's three trials are
recorded in rows A-1, A-2, and A-3. Likewise, Appraiser B has rows B-1, B-2, and B-3, and
Appraiser C has rows C-1, C-2, and C-3.
7. Start with Appraiser A and measure each of the ten parts in random order. A third party
should record the results of the first trial in row A-1. Proceed to Appraisers B & C following
the same process. Then repeat the process for trials two and three.
 The analysis of measurement error is output in the green-shaded boxes on page 2 of the
spreadsheet, which is shown below:

Variation from the measurement device, or Repeatability, equals 25.98% of the total part
variation, and 28% of the specification tolerance.
Variation from the appraisers, or Reproducibility, is equal to 6.02% of the total part
variation, and 7% of the specification tolerance.
Total variation from Repeatability and Reproducibility combined (they are not directly
additive) is 26.67% of the total variation, and 29% of the specification tolerance.
 The rule of thumb for acceptance of a measurement system is a total Gage R&R of 30% or
less of the lessor of Total Variation or the Specification Tolerance. In this case, the
measurement system is capable, and can be used as a basis of decision making.
If the measurement system has error in excess of 30%, the first step to improve results is to
analyze the breakdown of the error source. If the largest contributor to error is Repeatability,
then the equipment must be improved. Likewise, if Reproducibility is the largest source of
error, appraiser training and adherence to procedures can yield improvement.
You can download a functional version of the Gage R&R spreadsheet.
MoreSteam Hint: If the measurement system is not capable (error above 30%), error can be normalized
by taking multiple measurements and averaging the results. This can be time consuming and expensive,
but it can be used to provide reliable measurement data while the measurement system process is being
improved.
Further Analysis
There are other methods that can be used to evaluate measurement systems. Most statistical
software packages, including Minitab, support ANOVA methods. You can download free trial
versions of several software packages through the Toolbox.
For additional information on Measurement System Analysis, consult the following:
An excellent statistics handbook is available free online from a partnership of SEMATECH
and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology - U.S. Commerce Department)
at http://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/mpc/section4/mpc4.htm
You can purchase an excellent guide to Measurement System Analysis (MSA) for a nominal
charge from the Automotive Industry Action Group under the publications/quality section of
their Web site, or by calling (248) 358-3570. The AIAG also offers publications on other
topics:
QS-9000
Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Juran's Quality Handbook (Juran's Quality Handbook, 5th Ed) by Joseph M.
Juran (Editor), A. Blanton Godfrey (Editor), A. Blanford Godfrey ISBN: 007034003X
Summary
Measurement Systems Analysis is a key step to any process improvement effort. By
understanding existing measurement systems a team can better understand the data provided
by those systems and make better business decisions.