T E R MI N OL OGY P R I ME R

Operations Management Simulation: Quality Analytics

Control Limits

𝑈𝐶𝐿$% = 𝑋' + A 𝑅% 2

𝐿𝐶𝐿$% = 𝑋' - A 𝑅%
2

𝑈𝐶𝐿) = D 𝑅%4

𝐿𝐶𝐿) = D 𝑅%3

3-Sigma Control Chart Factors

Sample A 2 D 3 D 4

Size

2 1.880 - 3.267

3 1.023 - 2.574

4 0.729 - 2.282

5 0.577 - 2.114

6 0.483 - 2.004

7 0.419 0.076 1.924

8 0.373 0.136 1.864

9 0.337 0.184 1.816

10 0.308 0.223 1.777

15 0.223 0.347 1.653

25 0.153 0.459 1.541

1
Operations Management Simulation: Quality Analytics – Terminology Primer

Process Capability
1. Use visual inspection to determine whether the process mean is centered between the
specification limits.

2. Calculate the process capability index.

a. Use 𝐶?@ if the process mean is centered between the specification limits.

ABCDCBC
𝐶?@ =
G
EF

b. Use 𝐶?@H if the process mean is not centered between the specification limits.

𝑈𝑆𝐿−𝜇
G 𝜇G −𝐿𝑆𝐿
𝐶?@H =min I 3𝜎G , 3𝜎G O

USL = Upper specification limit

LSL = Lower specification limit

𝜇̂ = Process mean, which is the centerline between the UCL and LCL. This can
be calculated by adding the UCL and LCL, then dividing by 2.

𝜎Q = Process standard deviation, which can be calculated from the control

limits, as follows. Calculate the process standard error as the difference
between either of the control limits and the process mean, divided by 3.
Then, calculate the process standard deviation by multiplying the process
standard error by √𝑛.

3. Higher values of 𝐶?@ and 𝐶?@H indicate a more capable process. Experts recommend a
process capability index of at least 1.33 for a two-sided specification. For a one-sided
specification that consists of an upper limit only (for example, concentration) or a lower
limit only (for example, for strength), the process is considered capable if the process
capability index > 1.25.