When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills: Chinese Proverb
Introduction
What is the difference between Success and Joy? Sometimes we use them interchangeably without realizing that there can be some difference. Success is external which is for the outer world. While Joy is internal and is for your inner bliss.
Objective
Have you heard of the terms Control limits and specification limits? Do these terms confuse you? Are you trying to find out the relation between the two terms? Are you wondering whether these terms are the same or different? Are you confused with when and where to use these terminologies? This blog will provide you with clarity on what these two terms are and the key difference between the two.
Definitions:
Specification Limits are the targets set for the process/product by customer or market performance or internal target. In short, it is the intended result on the metric that is measured. They have discrete values and can be counted for recording and analysis.
Control Limits: are the indicators of the variation in the performance of the process. It is the actual values that the process is operating on. It is the real-time value.
Detailed Information
We often hear control limits and specification limits are being discussed as if they are interchangeable. But control limits and specification limits are completely different values and concepts. What is the relationship between control limits and specification limits? Usually, there is no relationship whatsoever.
The most common mistake is to use specification limit values instead of control limit values on an X-bar chart or an Individuals chart. Using specifications limits on an X-bar is the silliest error!
A process can be incapable of meeting a specification while remaining in statistical control – we are predictably making our product out of specification.
There are certain conditions where the customer allows the organization to run the process wherein the process meets the tolerance requirements but not in statistical control. They are
- The customer is insensitive to variation within specification
- The cost involved to improve the special causes is more than the benefits to the customer
- The special causes are predictable and consistent
Following are some of the key difference between Specification and Control Limits:
| S.No. | Specification Limits | Control Limits |
| 1 | Voice of the Customer | Voice of the Process |
| 2 | The concern of the Customer to meet | The concern of the Organization to meet |
| 3 | Reduces Customer rejection | Reduces Internal rejection |
| 4 | The process should perform within the specification limit | The process should perform within control limits (LCL and UCL) |
| 5 | Allowable deviation from the Target value | Allowable deviation from the Past performance |
| 6
|
Focus on meeting the requirements | Focus is on Location, Spread, and Width |
| 7 | Defined by the Customer/Organization | Calculated from the Data |
| 8 | Appears on Histogram | Appears on Control Chart |
| 9 | What we want the process to do | What the process is doing |
| 10 | Separate good items from bad | Guide for process action |
Present Challenges:
- How often the organization is clear about the difference between specification and control limits?
- Why many organizations plot specification limits in the control chart to monitor the stability of the process?
References:
IATF 16949: 2016
SPC Manual (AIAG) 2nd Edition
Industry Experts
This is the 110th article of this Quality Management series. Every weekend, you will find useful information that will make your Management System journey Productive. Please share it with your colleagues too.
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