What does process capability analysis evaluate?

Process capability analysis is a statistical technique used to assess a process's ability to produce output that meets specified limits or requirements. This analysis focuses on understanding the inherent variability of the process and how it relates to the predefined specification limits set for the products or services being produced.

By evaluating a process's ability to meet these specification limits, organizations can determine whether the process is capable and consistent enough to produce goods that satisfy customer expectations. This is typically quantified using capability indices such as Cp, Cpk, Pp, and Ppk, which compare the process variation to the width of the specification limits.

This analysis is crucial for quality management, as it helps identify whether improvements are necessary to enhance process performance, ensure customer satisfaction, and minimize defects. Other considerations, such as financial profitability, legal compliance, and processing speed, do not directly evaluate the process capability in terms of meeting quality specifications.