Re: Specification Story

[Sinte@aol.com]

IMHO, meeting specifications does not = quality.  Parts, assemblies, etc can 
be to specification but still not meet form, fit or function capabilities; or 
they may wear out too soon if they do meet the latter.  I know organizations 
that battled customers regarding the fact the product being rejected met 
specifications and still lost the business.  One such company that made fan 
blades for semi trucks argued and argued with the the customer regarding 
product returns, refusing to accept the parts back because they were in spec. 
They lost the business.  "When will we ever learn, When will we ever learn."

Playing tricks with 6 sigma and trying to set specifications outside the 
process parameters is also misleading.  I can meet six sigma criteria of 2.7 
defective parts per million and have an inferior product.  Again, meeting 
spec tells me nothing except  the engineering limits my measurements may fall 
between.  When I document my data on a check sheet however, I may not see the 
true picture of my data until I group it in a histgram or other analysis 
tool. Look at the education system.  The students coming out of our high 
schools all meet standards (specification) but then why are our remedial 
English and Math classes so full in our community colleges?  Why do we have 
high school graduates unable to fill out job applications or write a 
complete, concise well formated paragraph, let alone  term paper. 

I have had several students trained to the Green Belt level with Engineering 
degrees ask in surprise when I explain the Xbar and R chart and Cpk that the 
process has to be in control before they can do a Cpk analysis.  Why? they 
ask.  Because a process that is not in control can not be predicted.  If you 
can't predict a process you can't compare its ability to meet spec.  They go 
back to their jobs with a realization that the Cpk's they have been spouting 
mean nothing. It seems students want to get to the Cpk part before they do 
their homework.  Get the problem solving steps in order and do your work 
before you jump to Cpk.  

I might be rambling, so here's wishing eveyone a good day!

Linda Ortberg
www.LeadingEducation.com