ppm

ppm - Assessing Overall Performance

Taguchi defined a loss function which quantifies the losses due to manufacturing variation. As product characteristics depart from their design target, this loss function states that the loss will be proportional to the target deviation squared. Chan, Cheng, and Spiring created a capability measure, Cpm which is inversely related to this loss.

ppm, is derived from Cpm and is inversely related to the losses in a manufacturing process. The higher the ppm value, the better the process performance. When a target, upper, and lower specification are given, ppm is calculated by

ppm-Eqn

where

Note

When a characteristic is bounded, by zero or some other value, and the target is at the bounds, for example zero for flatness, enter a specification at the bounds and use the above formula. Similarly, if analyzing within part variability which is intended to be zero, use a lower specification and target of zero, and an upper specification equal to the specification range.

For a single specification and target the following is used

ppmSingleSpec-Eqn

where SL is the Specification Limit.

The use of ppm assumes valid specifications and targets are given and representative samples are generated during the period of interest.

When appropriately employed, ppm may be used as a primary measure to assess the performance of a process. Process performance will improve, as measured by increases in ppm, as: