Interpret the key results for Normal

Capability Analysis
Learn more about Minitab 18

Complete the following steps to interpret a normal capability analysis. Key output includes
the histogram, normal curves, and capability indices.

In This Topic

• Step 1: Check your data for problems

• Step 2: Examine the observed performance of your process
• Step 3: Evaluate the capability of the process

Step 1: Check your data for problems

Your process should be stable and the original (or transformed) process data should follow
a normal distribution. The histogram and fitted normal curves provide an informal way to
quickly check for potential problems.
IMPORTANT
For a more thorough analysis of these requirements, use Normal Capability Sixpack.

Visually examine the distribution fit

Compare the solid overall curve to the bars of the histogram to assess whether your data
are approximately normal. If the bars vary greatly from the curve, your data may not be
normal and the capability estimates may not be reliable for your process. If your data
appear to be nonnormal, use Individual Distribution Identification to determine whether you
need to transform the data or fit a nonnormal distribution to perform capability analysis.

Good fit
Poor fit

NOTE
You can use the Transform option included in this analysis to transform nonnormal data.
To fit a nonnormal distribution to your data, use Nonnormal Capability Analysis.

Compare the within and overall curves

Compare the solid overall curve and the dashed within curve to see how closely they are
aligned. A substantial difference between the curves may indicate that the process is not
stable or that there is a significant amount of variation between the subgroups. Use a
control chart to verify that your process is stable before you perform a capability analysis.

Closely aligned

Poorly aligned

NOTE
If you are analyzing a process that naturally exhibits large variation between subgroups,
such as a batch process, and the variation is not due to special causes, consider
using Between/Within Capability Analysis.

Step 2: Examine the observed performance of your process

Use the capability histogram to visually examine the sample observations in relation to the
process requirements.
Examine the process spread
Visually examine the data in the histogram in relation to the lower and upper specification
limits. Ideally, the spread of the data is narrower than the specification spread, and all the
data are inside the specification limits. Data that are outside the specification limits
represent nonconforming items.

In this histogram, the process spread is wider than the specification spread, which suggests poor
capability. Although most of the data are within the specification limits, there are nonconforming items
below the lower specification limit (LSL) and above the upper specification limit (USL).
NOTE
To determine the actual number of nonconforming items in your process, use the results for
PPM < LSL, PPM > USL, and PPM Total. For more information, go to All statistics and
graphs.

Assess the center of the process

Evaluate whether the process is centered between the specification limits or at the target
value, if you have one. The center of the data occurs at the peak of the distribution curve
and is estimated by the sample mean.

In this histogram, although the sample observations fall inside of the specification limits, the peak of the
distribution curve is not centered on the target. Most of the data exceed the target value.
Step 3: Evaluate the capability of the process
Use the main capability indices to evaluate how well your process meets requirements.

Assess potential capability

Use Cpk to evaluate the potential capability of your process based on both the process
location and the process spread. Potential capability indicates the capability that could be
achieved if process shifts and drifts were eliminated.

Generally, higher Cpk values indicate a more capable process. Lower Cpk values indicate
that your process may need improvement.

• Compare Cpk with a benchmark that represents the minimum value that is
acceptable for your process. Many industries use a benchmark value of 1.33. If Cpk is
lower than your benchmark, consider ways to improve your process, such as
reducing its variation or shifting its location.
• Compare Cp and Cpk. If Cp and Cpk are approximately equal, then the process is
centered between the specification limits. If Cp and Cpk differ, then the process is
not centered.

Key Result: Cpk

For these process data, Cpk is 1.09. Because Cpk less than 1.33, the potential capability of the process
does not meet requirements. The process is too close to the lower specification limit. The process is not
centered, so Cpk does not equal Cp (2.76).

Assess overall capability

Use Ppk to evaluate the overall capability of your process based on both the process
location and the process spread. Overall capability indicates the actual performance of your
process that your customer experiences over time.
Generally, higher Ppk values indicate a more capable process. Lower Ppk values indicate that
your process may need improvement.

• Compare Ppk to a benchmark value that represents the minimum value that is
acceptable for your process. Many industries use a benchmark value of 1.33. If Ppk is
lower than your benchmark, consider ways to improve your process.
• Compare Pp and Ppk. If Pp and Ppk are approximately equal, then the process is
centered between the specification limits. If Pp and Ppk differ, then the process is not
centered.
• Compare Ppk and Cpk. When a process is in statistical control, Ppk and Cpk are
approximately equal. The difference between Ppk and Cpk represents the
improvement in process capability that you could expect if shifts and drifts in the
process were eliminated.

Key Result: Ppk

For these process data, Ppk = 0.52. Because Ppk is less than 1.33, the overall capability of the process does
not meet requirements. The process is centered, so Ppk ≈ Pp (0.53). However, Ppk < Cpk (0.72), which
indicates that the overall capability of the process could be improved if the shifts and drifts (the variation
between the subgroups) were reduced.
IMPORTANT
The Cpk and Ppk indices measure the capability of the process in relation only to the
specification limit that is closest to the process mean. Therefore, these indices represent
only one side of the process curve, and do not measure how the process performs on the
other side of the process curve. If your process produces nonconforming items that fall
outside both the lower and upper specification limits, use additional capability measures in
the output to more fully assess process performance. For more information on other
capability measures, go to All statistics and graphs.