A comparison of observed performance

and expected performance

Learn more about Minitab 19

When you perform a capability analysis for measurement data, Minitab evaluates both the
observed and expected performance of your process.

Observed performance
The observed performance uses only your sample data to calculate the actual
number of nonconforming parts in the sample that are outside the specification
limits.

Expected performance
The expected performance is based on the overall distribution that is fit to your data
and estimates the nonconforming parts that you can expect to be outside the
specification limits. Expected values are projections or extrapolations based on the
cumulative distribution function and are used to estimate both the potential and
overall capability of a process.

Example of observed performance and expected

performance

Observed Performance: PPM Total

The red bars on this histogram show the total number of observed nonconforming parts in the
sample.
Expected Performance: PPM Total
The red shaded area of this histogram show the probability that a randomly selected part is outside
of the specification limits. Therefore it estimates the number of expected nonconforming parts in the
process over time, based on a normal distribution.