MEASUREMENT SYSTEM ANALYSIS (MSA):A Brief TutorialMISSOURI MIECHV GATEWAY

CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TRAINING

• Measurement system analysis (MSA) is an experimental and mathematical method of determining how much the variation within the measurement process contributes to overall process variability.

• To determine if a measurement system can generate accurate data and if the accuracy is adequate to achieve your objectives.

• MSA measures five parameters: bias, stability, reproducibility, linearity, and reliability.

• MSA can be used: • To make better business decisions as a result of a better understanding of

the data;• for quality assurance; and,• for quality control.

Sources (www.isixsigma.com & The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook & University of Missouri HealthCare, QI Tool/Concept Portfolio #1)

MSA: Overview

1. Bias: is the measure of the distance between the average value of the measurement and the “real” or “actual” value of the sample

2. Linearity: is the measure of the consistency of bias over the range of the measurement device.

3. Stability: is the capacity of a measurement system to reproduce the same values over time when measuring the same sample.

4. Reproducibility: considers the ability of different measurement systems to measure the same sample with the same measurement device and get same results.

5. Repeatability: considers the ability of the same measurement system to measure the same sample with the same measurement device and get same results.

Source (University of Missouri HealthCare, QI Tool/Concept Portfolio #1)

MSA: Measures