Calibration is the process of comparing the measuring or output capabilities of a piece of equipment to a known standard. This allows for one of two basic actions that make sure that the equipment can be used effectively. You can apply a correction factor to the instrument, much like “Kentucky Read more…
Beta risk, statistically speaking, is the risk associated with accepting a null hypothesis when it is actually false. In other words, beta risk is a false negative in which a product is said to be free of defects when it actually has one. Beta risk is also known as a Read more…
Alpha risk is, in statistical terms, the chance of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is, in fact, true. In other words, it is a false positive (i.e. a good part is identified as a defect). This risk is also known as a Type-I risk, or producer’s risk. See Also: Read more…
The acceptance number is the highest number of nonconforming items that can be found in a sample for a lot to still be considered acceptable. This number is determined by statistical analysis and is based on the required quality level, lot size, and sample size. The underlying premise of using Read more…
I recently had an interesting experience on LinkedIn. On occasion, I answer discussion questions where I think I can add value. One such question mentioned that Dr. Liker recommends Toyota alumni to lead Lean transformations, and questioned why companies would be interested in advanced degrees and certifications. The question was Read more…
Capability simply means that a person or machine has the ability to perform a required task. It is a binary measure. That simply means that it is physically possible in the current state to do something, or it is not. Capability should not be confused with yield or effectiveness (how Read more…
Automated guided vehicles (sometimes called Automatic Guided Vehicles) are driverless vehicles that primarily perform transportation functions. In most cases, they support materials groups in distribution of raw materials and in movement of finished goods. These vehicles may either operate similar to a pallet jack, and carry the load, or as Read more…
Production processes require assets to run them. You generally have choices. You can use a big machine that costs a lot of money but has tremendous functionality and flexibility. These machines, because of their cost, end up being used in several processes or for several products to defray the cost. Read more…
Yield is a quality ratio. It is calculated by dividing the number of good pieces of work by the number of pieces of work started and is expressed as a percent. If a process starts work on 100 items, for example, and 92 make it off the end of the Read more…
Backflushing is an accounting method that applies costs to production but can also be used to manage inventory. It is also known as “postproduction issuing.” When an operation is completed, the appropriate materials and other resources are issued against the production order. The inventory levels in the system of all Read more…
Any product or service you purchase has a useful life. After that, the value of continuing to use it declines until it makes sense to move to something more modern. The most common example of this is computers. Software becomes outdated at a regular pace as new hardware is developed. Read more…
Dedicated pieces of equipment are machines and tools that are specified for specific tasks or workstations. The primary purpose of dedicating equipment to a specific process step is to facilitate flow. If a machine is shared, it may not be available when needed, causing items to wait in a queue. Read more…