Measurement system analysis

In quality management, measurement system analysis, or MSA for short, refers to the analysis of the capability of measuring equipment and measuring systems. Measurement inaccuracies are analyzed on the basis of five categories: Accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, linearity and stability. These categories are checked in a measurement system analysis according to specific procedures. The first procedure is always resolution, which examines the accuracy of the displayed resolution of measurement displays with respect to tolerance. This procedure can be followed by three others, which are also commonly titled Procedure 1, Procedure 2, and Procedure 3. Procedure 1 determines the accuracy and repeatability of a gage via a repeated measurement of a standard for which represents a known characteristic value. Procedure 2 examines the repeatability and reproducibility of a measuring means, and is applied after it has been determined capable by Procedure 1. For Procedure 2, multiple operators measure ten parts multiple times. The results are then evaluated. Procedure 3 represents a special case of Procedure 2, which assumes that operators have a small or negligible influence on the measuring device. This would be the case, for example, with automated measuring systems.