Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Practice Exam

What does measurement system analysis assess in a process?

1. Gage variation

2. Process performance

3. Process stability

4. Engineering tolerances

The correct answer is: Process stability

Measurement system analysis (MSA) primarily evaluates the accuracy and reliability of measurement systems utilized in a process. The purpose of MSA is to assess the variability introduced by the measurement system itself rather than the process being measured. When considering the option about process stability, it’s important to recognize that while stability is relevant to understanding the behaviors and tendencies of a process over time, MSA’s primary focus is ensuring that the measurements taken are consistent and dependable. A stable process can only be effectively analyzed if the measurement system is capable of accurately capturing data without significant variation that could misrepresent the true performance of the process. Thus, the assessment of measurement systems considers both the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements which inherently impacts the stability of the findings. In contrast, evaluating gage variation directly pertains to understanding how much of the variation seen in the measurements is due to the measurement system itself, rather than the process. While relevant to measurement error, this does not encompass the broader implications of assessing whether a process is stable over time. Process performance and engineering tolerances also focus on different aspects of the operation, with process performance looking at outcomes based on the process capabilities and engineering tolerances defining the acceptable limits for the process outputs. However, none targets the