Looking beyond audit-oriented evaluation of gauge repeatability and reproducibility: A case study

Abstract

With the advent of QS 9000 quality system, measurement systems analysis (MSA) has begun to get its due importance. Companies seeking QS 9000 certification have been conducting gauge repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) studies regularly. Such exercises are proving to be immensely beneficial from the point of view of in-depth understanding of the company's own measurement process. However, the common Indian experience is that most of the industries conducting MSA studies are finding it extremely difficult to investigate the root causes behind poor gauge R&R and consequently to take proper corrective actions. Most of the exercises are thus ending solely in an audit-oriented evaluation of the gauge R&R without any systematic effort to reduce the same. In this paper, we have made an attempt to demonstrate through a case study how the problem of high gauge R&R can be resolved by unearthing the root causes and taking appropriate corrective actions.