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How well do you manage measurement systems? Find out with this interactive self-assessment.

This self assessment is roughly compatible to the guide "Measurement Systems Analysis", 3rd edition, produced under the auspices of the Automotive Industry Action Group and the American Society for Quality 

Scroll to bottom for results.

Selection of instruments Have you ascertained the instruments you use on key parameters provide the best characterization of the attributes you wish to measure?
  Before you acquire new instruments, do you determine the required resolution and repeatability specifications (measurement error) prior to acquisition?
  After you acquire the instrument, do you conduct tests to determine whether the instruments meet these specifications before putting them into use?
  Have you ascertained that the instruments you use on key parameters have a sufficient resolution to detect process or product variations that may be significant?
When you upgrade instruments or purchase new instruments, do you perform regression studies on the new and old instruments do determine whether the difference in the way the two instruments measure?
  Do you update your process control and quality control procedures according to the difference in the two instruments?
  Do you read the instructions that come with the instruments and develop your own measurement, instrument testing and calibration procedures based on these instructions?
  Your Partial score for Instrument selection  
Instrument Repeatability  Have you determined the repeatability of the instruments? (this means that you know the standard deviation of the measurement device when used by a single appraiser to measure the same characteristic on the same part).
  Have you established a criterion for determining whether the instrument standard deviations are acceptable?  (for example, Acceptable if s.d. < one scale unit). 
  Have you verified that the instruments meet the criterion? 
  In situations where they do not meet the criteria do your measurement procedures call for repeated measurements, and the use the mean of these measurements, to increase measurement precision?
  Partial score for Instrument repeatability  
Measurement Methods Have you performed statistical studies to determine whether differences in methods for sampling, preparation and measuring may contribute to measurement variation? (e.g. differences in collection, preparation, handling or storage of samples or use of measuring device).
  Have you modified your methodologies as a result of these studies 
  Do you perform audits or inspections to determine whether the appraisers continue to use the methodologies you have developed?
  Have you verified that users of the instruments can read the scales properly (e.g. reading without parallax errors, reading the correct scale on an instrument with multiple scales, not rounding up or down)
  Partial score for Measurement methods  
Reproducibility and stability Have you determined the sources of variation in the measurement devices and in measurement methods that may affect reproducibility and stability (e.g. appraisers, instruments, wear, environmental variables etc.)?
  Have you conducted a reproducibility study to estimate the contribution to variability of each of these sources? 
  When there was more than one source did you use Design of Experiments or related techniques to determine whether these sources contributed a statistically significant amount of variation?
  Have you developed controls (e.g. procedures, climate control, etc.) for these sources of variation to ensure the stability of measurement systems and methods? 
  Do you regularly conduct tests or studies on measurement systems to determine whether they are in statistical control? 
  Partial score for Reproducibility and stability  
Linearity and bias Have you determined that the instruments and measurement methods are unbiased over the full range of measurements they encounter in production operations?
  Do you use traceable standards when you determine linearity and bias?
  Partial score for Linearity and bias  
Product testing  Do your product testing (e.g. QC testing) procedures stipulate that appraisers should take a second measurement if the first one indicates the product may be out of specification, before rejecting the product? 
  Do you have internal criteria that define the acceptable measurement system variability compared to the product specification tolerance? 
  Have you tested your instruments to determine whether they conform to these criteria?
  Do your instruments conform to these internal criteria? 
  Partial score for product testing  
Process Control Do you have internal criteria that define the acceptable measurement system variability compared to process variation or process specifications? 
  Have you tested your instruments to determine whether they conform to these criteria?
  Do your instruments conform to these internal criteria? 
  Partial score for process control  
Calibration Do you regularly conduct scheduled calibrations? 
  Do you have documented calibration procedures for instruments on key parameters? 
  Do your calibration procedures use statistical techniques (control charts, t-tests etc.) to determine whether the instrument has become biased or unstable before re-calibrating? (The incorrect method is to recalibrate based on a single measurement assuming this indicates bias, without regard to measurement error (repeatability)). 
  Do you maintain detailed and legible records of when (a) instruments were tested, and (b) when these tests resulted in performance of calibrations?
  Do you use traceable standards for calibration, where such standards exist?
  Do you use an internal standard, when a traceable standard does not exist?
  Partial score for calibration  
Sampling error Do you report the sampling error that occurs when samples are taken from production lines, as an overall part of measurement error?
  Have you defined methods for determining sampling error?
  Partial score  for sampling error  

Score

 Your result for measurement  Make your choices then press Calculate below to see your score
  Interpreting your score: