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Traffic and Process Capability (Ppk) Relate?
As a teacher and a mentor, I am constantly looking for new ways to make complex subjects less complex using games, simulations stories, analogies., etc. My colleagues and I have found that the topic of Process CapabilityCapability analysis is a method used to evaluate the perform... Learn More... and how to interpret the Long Term and Short Term capabilityCapability analysis is a method used to evaluate the perform... Learn More... indices tend to make our students “eyes glaze over”.
What we came up with is a spin on other examples that i found on the web. We use an analogy of a carCorrective Action Reports are used to document a defect and ... Learn More... in a lane of a highway. The lane is bordered on both sides by concrete barriers. CarsCorrective Action Reports are used to document a defect and ... Learn More... are 60+ miles per hour in this lane.
Before we go into the analogy, we must first define what the CAR and the LANE represent.
- The Width of the CAR is the Voice of the ProcessLean Six Sigma Voice of the Process (VOP). Lean Six Sigma VO... Learn More... (VOP).
- The Width of the Car (or VOPLean Six Sigma Voice of the Process (VOP). Lean Six Sigma VO... Learn More...) is always equal to six standard deviations wide.
- VOPLean Six Sigma Voice of the Process (VOP). Lean Six Sigma VO... Learn More... is a dynamic metric because as we add more data to the data set the standard deviation changes
- The Width of the Lane (or VOC).
- The Width of the Lane (or VOCVoice of the customer (VOC) refers to the detailed process ... Learn More...) is also called the Tolerance because this is what the customer will tolerate
- VOCVoice of the customer (VOC) refers to the detailed process ... Learn More... is a static metric meaning that it only changes as the customer changes it
Now that we have a better understanding of how the analogy of the CAR and the LANE relate to VOP and VOC, we can use the CAR and the LANE example to explain the Process Capability Indices Ppk.
We only explain the Capability Indices Ppk because it is considered “Real Capability” and will give you truer representation of you processes capability to meet the requirement set by the customer.
Scenario:
You are in a city that has a road with one of two lanes under construction.
The are concrete barriers on both sides of the single lane.
Cars are going 60 MPH or more in this single lane
The Capability Indices “Pp” Compares the VOP (Car) to the VOC (Lane)
The Calculation for Pp = VOC / VOP
In this example Pp = 12/12 = 1
The Calculation for VOC = USL – LSL
The Calculation for VOP = 6 x StDev
“Pp” does not care whether the car is in the lane. It just compares the size of the lane to the size of the car
The Capability Indices “Ppk” not only Compares the VOP to the VOC, but also tell you where the car is in the lane.
Ppk is the Minimum of two Calculations Ppu (Pp Upper) and Ppl (Pp Lower)
The Minimum of the two calculations tell us what side of the Center of Lane the is the Center of the Car
The Calculation for Ppk = Min (Ppu, Ppl)
- Ppu = (USL – Mean) / (3 x StDev)
- Ppl = (Mean – LSL) / (3 x StDev )
Ppk = Min of Ppu and Ppl
Can Ppk be less than 1?
The Calculation for Ppk = Min (Ppu, Ppl)
- Ppu = (USL – Mean) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (12 – 3) / 5 = 1.80)
- Ppl = (Mean – LSL) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (3 – 0) / 5 = 0.6)
Ppk = Ppl (in this example: 0.6)
If the side of the car exceeds the lane then the Ppk is less than 1
If the center of the car has not exceeded the lane but the side of the car has then the Ppk is less than 1 and greater than 0
Can Ppk be 0 (Zero)?
The Calculation for Ppk = Min (Ppu, Ppl)
- Ppu = (USL – Mean) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (12 – 0 )/ 5 = 2.40)
- Ppl = (Mean – LSL) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (0 – 0) / 5 = 0.0)
Ppk = Ppl (in this example: 0.0)
If the middle of the car equals the lane then the Ppk is 0 (Zero)
Can Ppk be less than 0?
The Calculation for Ppk = Min (Ppu, Ppl)
- Ppu = (USL – Mean) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (12 – 13) / 5 = -0.2)
- Ppl = Mean – LSL / 3 x StDev (in this example: (13 – 0 )/ 5 = 2.6)
Ppk = Ppu (in this example: -0.2)
If the middle of the car exceeds the lane then the Ppk is less than 0 (zero) or negative
What if the Car is in the Middle of the Lane?
The Calculation for Ppk = Min (Ppu, Ppl)
- Ppu = (USL – Mean) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (12 – 6) / 5 = 1.2)
- Ppl = (Mean – LSL) / (3 x StDev) (in this example: (6 – 0) / 5 = 1.2)
Ppk = Ppu (in this example: 1.2)
The Calculation for Pp = VOC / VOP (In this example Pp = 12/10 = 1.2)
If the middle of my car equals the middle of the lane, then Pp, Ppu, Ppl and Ppk are the same
Feel free to use this analogy to teach others the concept of the Process Capability Indices Ppk. If this article has helped you or your colleagues to better understand these concepts please share with us in the comments below.
