Measurement system analysis by attribute, an effective tool to ensure the quality of the visual inspection process within an organization

Abstract

A successful quality assurance program in any organization needs good measurement systems. The concept of measurement system refers to the manpower, machines, materials, methods and mother nature involved in obtaining measurements. Measurement system analysis (MSA) is a set of procedures which are used to determine the amount of variation due to the measurement system and if the measurement data are valid. Most problematic measurement system issues come when the results of a measurement system are qualitative values such as “pass” or “fail” (attribute data) rather than quantitative values (variable data). Because in industry many measurement systems deal with qualitative data, the assessment of the visual inspection process is a contemporary approach for quality assurance in most manufacturing organizations. The aim of this paper is to apply the MSA attribute study in a local company from the Sibiu region supplying products for automotive industry, to ensure the quality of the visual inspection process for one of their parts, respectively the exterior lighting projectors (Day Running Light, DRLs). The output data were analyzed using Minitab software. The conclusion was that the visual inspection process must be improved by appraisers training and developing panel with samples for the most common defect types of DRLs.