1. Do you calculate the index Cpk for all types of tolerance?

Cpk is inconvenient for a half-tolerance, which is a frequent case.

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Problem (K.S.Krishnamoorthi, QE 2(4), 1990):

Let us have a size (T) and tolerance given: T = 3 .5 +−00,,01
00 . If we denote the lower tolerance limit
as LSL and the upper tolerance limit as USL, then LSL=T=3.5, USL=3.5+0.01=3.51. The
figure below depicts two producers. Which of them is better based on a visual assessment of
the level of centralization (adherence to T) and of the measure of variability? The first
producer’s mean is µ = 3,505 and his 3σ variability is 0,005, the second producer’s mean
is µ = 3,502 (thus, closer to T) and his 3σ variability = 0,002 is smaller:

So, the second producer is clearly better. However, the Cpk index of both of them is the same:

USL − µ µ − LSL
Cpk = min( , )
3σ 3σ

3,51− 3,505 3,505− 3,5 0,005 0,005

a) Cpk = min( , ) = min( , ) =1
0,005 0,005 0,005 0,005

3,51 − 3,502 3,502 − 3,5

b) Cpk = min( , ) =1
0,002 0,002
2. With the use of Cpk, one does not see that the supplier deceives,
when he purposefully keeps the mean equal to a tolerance limit:
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Why does he do it? For instance, when electronic contacts are guilt, i.e. when a thickness of
the gold layer (T) and a tolerance interval (LSL,USL) are set, the mean can be expected to be
shifted to the left, as close to the LSL as possible. On the contrary, if the price of a metal plate
being sold depends on its weight and the plate thickness (T = 50) is observed, then the
average thickness ( µ = 57) is close to the USL (see the figure 1)

Fig.1 The Cpk is significantly better than Cpm

Why does the Cpk index not reveal this strategy? Not keeping to the target value is offset
by reduction in variability:

Fig.2 (Boyles, R.A. 1991): Worse centralization is offset by smaller

variability. The Cpk = 1 in all the cases
3 Why is it recommended to
calculate more capability indices simultaneously?
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Two aspects are observed in capability assessment:
a) Ability to keep the target value, which is a so called „process centralization“
b) Measure of variability around T

Why are two aspects observed? The figure 1 shows two producers, both of them are
perfectly centralized, but have different variability.

Fig. 1 Different variability

Figure 2 depicts two producers with the same variability, but different level of centralization.
It is evident that observance of one of the characteristics is not enough.

Fig. 2 Different centralization

Most indices that are used are always more subject to change when one of the mentioned
aspects is not adhered to, as the following problem shows.
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Problem: a) Small variability but poor centralization. For the specification of LSL = 35, USL
= 65, T = 50, µ = 57 and s = 2,5, is Cpk = 1.06 (see the second remark), but Cpm = 0.67.
Thus, one index gives a satisfactory result, whereas the other one does not.
The Cpm is changes more when the T value is not met than Cpk is.

b) Good centralization, but high variability. For the specification of LSL = 12, USL = 18,
T = 14, µ = 14 and s = 0,75 is Cpm = 1.33, but Cpk = 0.88.

The change of Cpk is greater than that of Cpm when the variability is high.
4. The use of Cpk is not suitable for an S-type tolerance
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The S-type tolerance has an upper tolerance limit USL set only, the ideal (target) value is
T = 0. An example of this use is an allowed amount of injurants in food, a surface roughness
or an allowed filter permeability.

(Illustrative) problem: T = 0, USL = 10, measurement results:

a) 7,7,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,9,9. Cpk = 1.1, but the special index Cs = 0.85.

b) Measurement results: 1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,3. In this case, the result is closer to the target
value, while the variance remains unchanged. The Cpk = 1.1 (no change), but Cs = 3.3.
5. The Cpk index cannot be tested.
The Cpm, on the contrary, can be tested very easily.
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Why is it necessary to test the index significance?
If, for example, a supplier requires that Cpm = 1.33, it does not suffice to achieve this value as
the calculation was performed using a data sample and the obtained value is thus only an
estimate of Cpm. Therefore we ask, what value it is necessary to achieve, i.e. what the
Cpm(min) is, so that requested index equals 1.33.
Several values of Cpm(min) are in the following table in case it is demanded that Cpk = 1.33

n p = 90% 95% 99%

10 Cpm(min)=1,8 2,02 2,50
25 1,61 1,71 1,92
50 1,52 1,58 1,71
75 1,48 1,53 1,63
100 1,46 1,50 1,58

How can the table be interpreted?

If the required value of Cpm is 1.33, then the Cpm(min) depends on:
a) the number of values n from which the index is calculated; the Cpm(min) drops with n
growing,
b) the nivel of test p (90%, 95%, 99%).

For n = 10 and the nivel of test p = 90%, for instance, it is necessary to achieve that
Cpm(min) = 1.8 so that the demanded value 1.33 of Cpm is met.

A similar table exists for demanded index value of 1.00 and 1.67. If the tables are not
available, then the Cpm(min) can be calculated. Another possibility of the index significance
verification is testing of its verification. Both the calculation of the Cpm(min) and the index
testing can be performed for any n,p and required value of Cpm in the Capa software.
6. Capability index gives reliable results
only if the necessary prerequisites are met.
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Which prerequisites must be met?

The prerequisites are divided into the general ones and specific ones:

The general prerequisites must be fulfilled for a calculation of every index. They are:

a) Process stability
b) Correct data (independent, representative and without outliers).
c) The right tolerance

Specific prerequisites are related to a specific index, for instance: tolerance symmetry for
Cpm, the same value of mean and the target value for Cp, normal distribution for Cpk, Cpm
and Cp.

What happens if the prerequisites are not met?

Problem:

a) What an outlier causes:

When a detergent weight is controlled, the following specification is given:
LSL = 19.8, T = 20, USL = 20.2.
Control results: 19.9,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20.1.
The task is to calculate the index Cpk. In this case, Cpk = 1.56. If there is a mistake in the last
number, e.g. when the decimal point was omitted and the calculation used 201 instead of 20.1,
then Cpk = 0.00.
Here, the prerequisite (b): correct data-without outliers was not fulfilled.

b) What a faultily set tolerance causes:

If the tolerance interval is wider: LSL = 19 and USL = 21, then even if all the measurement
results lie outside the target value, so that none of the values meets the set weight: 19.7, 19.8,
19.8, 19.8, 19.8, 19.8, 19.8, 19.8, 19.8, 19.9, then Cpk = 5.6.
Here, the prerequisite (c): faultily set tolerance is not met.

c) What data autocorrelation causes (Haim Shore, QE 9(4), 1997):

This results in index value reduction, in diversion of the estimate towards higher values and
in lower reliability of the index estimate (higher variability of the estimate).
d) What happens if the prerequisite of normal distribution is not met
(B.Gunter: Quality Progress, May 1989, p.80):

The figure below depicts a normal distribution denoted as „perfect“ and a mix of normal
distribution with 10 per cent of other distribution denoted as „contaminated“. The two
distributions do not differ visually too much. Despite that, the perfect distribution Cpk =
1.33, while the contaminated distribution Cpk = 0.50 only. Thus, it can be seen that only a
slight diversion from normal distribution causes a significant reduction of the index value.

Fig 1: Comparison of Cpk indices when a small diversion from normal distribution occurs.

Fulfilment of general and specific prerequisites is verified by special tests (Capa, the chapter
„Tests“).
7. It is unacceptable to use the indices Cp, Cpk, Cpm, Cpmk
if the data are not normally distributed.
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What happens if the requirement of normality is ignored?

Problem: In a production, the following is set: the target value T = 0.75, lower tolerance limit
LSL = 0.68 and the upper tolerance limit USL = 0.82. The results of the control of observed
quality characteristics are (illustrative data):0.70, 0.71, 0.72, 0.73, 0.74, 0.75, 0.76, 0.77, 0.78.
All the customers are satisfied with the supplied product. However, when the firm
manufacturing the product was to prove the process capability using a capability index and it
used the Cpk index for this purpose, the Cpk = 0.73. Thus, the process is incapable. We
remind that the product brings a general satisfaction. Where is the mistake? The mistake is
that the sample is not normally distributed.(Here, it is rather a uniform distribution.)
If the quantiles x0,00135 and x0.99865 are available, then for a distribution other than normal, it is
possible to use the indices Cpp or CpT that were designed by Schneider and his team. The
problem with their use is that the quantiles x0,00135 and x0.99865 can be obtained from the data
only if there are at least 740 of them in the sample. But, such a large sample is usually not
available. In such a case, the authors recommend to replace the two quantiles with the
minimal and maximal value xmin and xmax.

 x − LSL USL − x 
Cpp = min  , 
 x − x min x max − x 

 0.74 − 0.68 0.82 − 0.74 

Cpp = min ,  = min{1.5, 2.0} = 1.5
 0.74 − 0. 70 0.78 − 0.74 

 T − LSL USL − T 
C pT = min , 
 T − x min xmax − T 

 0.75 − 0.68 0.82 − 0.75

= min ,  = min{1.4,2.3} = 1. 4
 0.75 − 0.70 0. 78 − 0.75

The values Cpp = 1.5 or CpT = 1.4 much better reflect the actual level of this technological
process.
Since the quantiles were replaced with the minimal and maximal value, it is necessary to have
a sufficiently large sample, let us say at least n = 100.
8. How is the capability assessed in case
the quality characteristic is not normally distributed?
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One of the main criteria determining further steps in the selection of the appropriate capability
index is, whether the quality characteristic is normally distributed. Therefore, this prerequisite
should be verified before we proceed. The user has two questions to answer:

How to verify normality reliably?

The Capa software contains three tests of normality: the test based on skewness and curtosis,
Darling’s test and the Shapiro-Wilk’s test + QQ graph for graphical decision on normality.

How to assess the capability if the normality is not verified?

In case a test does not confirm accordance with normal distribution, the classical capability
indices Cp, Cpk, Cpm, Cpk cannot be used. Basically, there are two other ways of further
procedure:

a) Find out what distribution the data have and find the quantiles (for such a distribution)
defining the interval which contain 99.73 % of values (generally 100x(1-alpha) percent of
values) or use a special capability index defined for this type of distribution. The Capa
software contains the generally-known Clement‘s method for beta and gamma
distrubution and t-distribution.

b) Use some of the universal capability indices which do not require normal distribution.

Capa contains -the Cpp, CpT and Cs indices

-confidence interval for Cpk for any type of distribution
-Castagliola’s method for the calculation of Cp and Cpk for any type of
distribution

However, even if the normality of the quality characteristic is confirmed, it is not always
possible to calculate the basic indices Cp, Cpk, Cpm and Cpmk. Their use is conditioned on
the type of tolerance. The indices are not suitable for unilateral tolerances (half-tolerances).
Therefore, the Capa has an option for selection of the index that complies with the type of
tolerance. The option is in the chapter of N distribution.
9.1 Do you observe more quality characteristics simultaneously?
It is not correct then to assess the capability of each characteristic separately.
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How is the capability assessed when more quality characteristics are involved?
The answer is multivariate indices.

When can each quality characteristic be assessed separately? In case they are mutually
independent.

Problem: For two variables x1 and x2 (see table 1), the specification is: LSL1 = 136,
T1 = 176, USL1 = 216 and LSL2 = 41, T2 = 53, USL2 = 62.5. For x1 is Cpm = 0.724, for x2 is
Cpm = 0.542, thus incapability in both cases, while the multivariate index MCpm(min) =
0.86, which means that the process is capable.

Tab. 1 Hypothetical data

X1 X2 X1 X2
1 143 34,2 13 187 58,2
2 200 57,0 14 186 57,0
3 160 47,5 15 172 49,4
4 181 53,4 16 182 57,2
5 148 47,8 17 177 50,6
6 178 51,5 18 204 55,5
7 162 45,9 19 178 50,9
8 215 59,1 20 196 57,9
9 161 48,8 21 160 45,5
10 141 47,3 22 183 53,9
11 175 57,3 23 179 51,2
12 187 58,5 24 194 57,5
25 181 55,6

Note: For MCpm, even a value less than one can be sufficient.
9.2 Do you observe more quality characteristics simultaneously?
What are the general prerequisites for the capability assessment?
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The prerequisites are:

a) Process stability: it is verified by multivariate regulation diagram or by a special test of

stability.
b) Correct data: they should be representative, independent (to be verified by a test), without
outliers (to be verified by a test as well).
c) Correct tolerance.
d) Normality (to be verified by the test of multivariate normality).

What attributes of multivariate quality characteristics are assessed:

a) Capability b) Process centralization c) Location of measurement results

(MCp, Mcpm) (t-test) (M statistics)
9.3 Do you observe more quality characteristics simultaneusly?
Is it possible to use a graphical method for a multivariate quality characteristic?
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Figure 1 shows a two-dimensional normally distributed quality characteristic, figure 2 depicts
a view into the x1 0x2 plane limited by tolerance interval for X1 and X2 , the target value T1
and T2 , central point with the coordinates ( x1 , x2 ) and the target point T = (T1 ,T2 ).
Assessed are the significance of the distance between the points, variability in the tolerance
rectangle defined by the intervals (LSL1 ,USL1 ) and (LSL2 ,USL2 ) and the outlying (points
outside the tolerance rectangle).

Fig.1 Two-dimensional normally distributed quality characteristic

 Fig. 2 View into the x1 0x2 with the tolerance intervals for X1 and X2 .

The variables x1 and x2 are means and define the point ( x1 , x2 ) in the plane. T1 and T2 are
target values for the quality characteristic X1 and X2 and define the ideal point (T1 ,T2 ). A test
decides about the level of centralization. If the distance between the points ( x1 , x2 ) and
(T1 ,T2 ) is significant, the centralization is unsatisfactory.
10. 1 Is it possible to calculate a capability index
at the job shop production?
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When the capability is assessed at the jobshop production, the percentage use of the tolerance
is calculated with the following formula

100 ( X i − T )
Qi =
d

where d is tolerance, Xi is the achieved value of the quality characteristic, T is the set (target)
value of the quality characteristic and Q is the percentage use of the tolerance (here it is a
symmetric tolerance).

Problem: The tolerance interval is described by LSL = 5, USL = 10 and T = 7.5. If X = 7

was achieved, then Q = -20 % use of the tolerance (the minus sign only says what the
orientation of the achieved value x is, here it is to the left from T).
If X = 9.5, then Q = 80% and for X = USL=10 is Q = 100%. Qi is calculated for Xmax and
Xmin .

The Capa software also calculates the average absolute value Qi, which is useful in case there
is more than one measure taken. The Capa denotes the value in its result report as E/Q/. For
two measures, X = 7 and X = 9.5, the average use of tolerance is E/Q/ = 50.

The capability index CpT is also calculated. The calculation is based on the original formula
that is included in the Capa software. Here, for X = 7, is CpT = 5.0.

10.2 Is it possible to calculate a capability index

when controlling calibration ?

Cpk index can be assigned to characteristics measured via pass / fail data (attribute type).

Problem: If the nonconformance rate is, for example, NC = 0.135 %, then it is possible to
calculate Cpk = 1 (Capa, the chapter NoN distribution: Attributes).

Notes: 1) For Cpk < 0 it is printed: Cpk = 0.

2) 0 ≤ NC ≤ 100