RE: Measurement Problem

["Robert Crow" <jr1crow@mindspring.com>]

My suggestion would be that you measure the difference between when the
work is completed and when the work order is handed in.  From this you can
compute the average time to hand in a work order and from that an upper and
lower control limit.  One question is: Do you want to reduce the length of
time between when work is completed and when work orders are handed in?  If
this is the case my suggestion would give you information regarding what
the system is producing now.  You will be able to determine if the system
is stable, ie all variation is random and within the control limits with no
trends, or if you have special causes or trends.

Depending on what you find you will either take action of the special
causes to eliminate them, or begin a process improvement effort to
streamline the process to reduce cycle time.

Robert Crow
Principal, Crow Consulting
770-396-2280
jr1crow@mindspring.com