The last part of an extended review on the series on building a MSA, this covers the 4th step of improving the measurement system if the MSA fails.

1. Section & Lesson #:
Pre-Requisite Lessons:
Complex Tools + Clear Teaching = Powerful Results
MSA – Improving the Measurement System
Six Sigma-Measure – Lesson 32
The last part of an extended review on the series on building a MSA, this
covers the 4th step of improving the measurement system if the MSA fails.
Six Sigma-Measure #31 – MSA – Gage R&R Test
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photographic, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.

2. Overview of Building the MSA
o Remember, there are 4 general steps for building the MSA:
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
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1. Plan
the MSA
2. Conduct
the MSA
3. Analyze
the Results
4. Improve
measurement
system
This involves determining:
• What needs to be measured
• What MSA tools will be used
• Who will be part of the study
• What samples/master to use
• How to conduct the study
This involves:
• Scheduling the study
• Leading the study
• Collecting data from the study
This involves:
• Compiling all collected data
• Processing data in MSA tools
• Interpreting analysis results
This involves determining:
• If MS needs improvement
• How to improve the MS
• Redoing MSA (as needed)

3. 4. Improve Measurement System
o Did the MSA fail?
• You may need to improve the measurement
system depending on what part of the MSA
failed and how severely it failed.
 How did the MSA fail? How can the problem be fixed where it failed?
 Use the list below to troubleshoot how to fix where the MSA failed:
o What do you do after the MSA failure has been identified and fixed?
• Ensure the improvements were effective; it may be necessary to re-run the MSA.
 If possible, use the same parts from the first MSA.
 If the MSA isn’t re-run, the same original risks may exist as if the MSA was never run in the first place.
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
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1. Plan
the MSA
2. Conduct
the MSA
3. Analyze
the Results
4. Improve
measurement
system
Failure How did it fail? How can it be fixed?
Stability • Lack of procedures • Write clear & simple SOPs
• Measurement device reacts differently to
variation when used
• Verify measurement device functions properly and
can handle procedure variation
• Non-standardized steps in process • Standardize and bring compliance to SOPs
• Changed measurement method during MSA • Re-run MSA with a consistent measurement method
Repeatability • Operator error • Develop process maps for most repeatable operator
• Measures are rounded by system, operator or
measuring device
• Replace/adjust measurement device to allow for
smaller units
• Differences in operator technique between
measurements
• Instruct operator about entire measurement device
scale
Reproducibility • Operator bias (e.g., operator not following SOP) • Find & remove operator bias (e.g., enforce SOP)
• Rounding up/down of measurement, or
inverting or forgetting sign for measurement
• Implement consistent procedures (SOP)

4. Practical Application
o Due to the nature of a MSA, there isn’t a practical application for the last step of
improving the measurement system when running the MSA.
• Despite this, please review the prior suggestions answering “How can it be fixed?”
 What additional ways would you recommend for fixing the different areas where the MSA failed?
Copyright © 2011-2019 by Matthew J. Hansen. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photographic,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission in writing by the author and/or publisher.
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