Which measure is used to determine how well a process is capable of producing output within specified limits?

The measure used to determine how well a process is capable of producing output within specified limits is the Process Capability Ratio. This metric compares the specification limits established for a process to the natural variability of the process itself. Specifically, the Process Capability Ratio (often denoted as Cp) quantifies the potential for a process to operate within those limits, thereby indicating how consistently the output will fall within the required specifications.

When evaluating a process, it’s essential to understand how capable it is of meeting customer requirements or technical standards. A higher Process Capability Ratio suggests a more capable process that is less likely to produce output outside of acceptable limits. On the other hand, lower ratios indicate that the process may frequently produce nonconforming products.

Factors like process efficiency, process stability, and process effectiveness measure different aspects of a process. Process efficiency looks at how well resources are utilized, process stability assesses the consistency of the process over time, and process effectiveness evaluates whether the output meets requirements. While these concepts are important, they do not specifically measure the ability to produce within specified limits in the same manner as the Process Capability Ratio does.