Free Process Capability Calculator

Knowing if a process will consistently meet specification is critical, here’s a tool that will help.

You have to manage a system. The system doesn’t manage itself.
W. Edwards Deming

A process is a unique combination of tools, materials, methods, and people engaged in producing a measurable output; for example a manufacturing line for machine parts. All processes have inherent statistical variability which can be evaluated by statistical methods…

The Process Capability is a measurable property of a process to the specification, expressed as a process capability index (e.g., C_pk or C_pm) or as a process performance index (e.g., P_pk or P_pm). The output of this measurement is usually illustrated by a histogram and calculations that predict how many parts will be produced out of specification.

Process capability is also defined as the capability of a process to meet its purpose as managed by an organization’s management and process definition structures ISO 15504.

Two parts of process capability are:

1) Measure the variability of a process, and

2) Compare that variability with a proposed specification or product tolerance.

You can use Minitab to complete process capability studies. For example, Keith Bower has produced some excellent overviews here and here. You can also check out his video below.

If you don’t have access to Minitab, then download my free Excel based calculator by clicking the download link below:

http://www.box.net/shared/hgbcv1c81n

You may also want to download a brief overview of process capability by clicking on the download link below:

http://www.box.net/shared/73ayxyfdsi

Read more here:

4-B Process Capability

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Free Six Sigma Program Management Spreadsheet

Here’s a fantastic free six sigma program management template.

There are generally two classes of software used to support Six Sigma:

• Analysis tools, which are used to perform statistical or process analysis
• Program management tools, used to manage and track a corporation’s entire Six Sigma program

Analysis tools

• EngineRoom by MoreSteam
• IBM WebSphere Business Modeler
• iGrafx Process for Six Sigma
• JMP
• Microsoft Visio
• Minitab
• SigmaXL
• Software AG webMethods BPM Suite
• Statgraphics
• STATISTICA
• Telelogic System Architect
• Actuate
• The Unscrambler
• Select Architect Business Process Modeling

Whilst these tools are great for isolated data analysis, I believe six-sigma software really comes into its own when you’re using it to manage an entire program:

The Six Sigma methodology relies on projects, programs, resources, processes and project management to drive continuous improvement. It quantifies all feedback and allows organizations to focus on activities that must change in order to achieve desired results. With the proper IT infrastructure and flexible Six Sigma program management software, accuracy and control can be achieved, enabling your company to execute the program smoothly. Data sources will be reliable, results can be monitored and validated in real time and success shared throughout the organization.

So with this in mind, you can click on the link below to download a fantastic free six sigma program management template. The template itself runs through an entire DMAIC project and suggests a number of tools and techniques which you can use at various stages. I found it to be of enormous benefit, providing a structure to my improvement activities.

Enjoy!

Click to download the free six sigma program management template

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