Eric and all, How about tracking the yield through the process/machine over time - per shift, daily, weekly, whatever makes sense? Example, I have 95% yield so I know for every 100 scheduled/produced I can expect, on average, to get 95 good ones to go to the next step. I can't tell you which ones are good until I measure/inspect something. I think of process capability (or the index), Cp or Cpk, as a means to compare the ability of a process/machine to produce something within tolerance. It tells me whether I will go broke trying to make something. Hans ~~~~~~~~ Hans M. Hinners WR-ALC/LYPME Bldg. 640 Materials Engineer 380 Second Street, Suite 104 Manufacturing Eng. Sec. Robins AFB GA 31098-1638 912-926-1970 (Voice) 468 - 1970 (DSN) 912-926-7974 (Fax) [log in to unmask] > > What is the best way to determine the process capability of a machine in > terms of defective units produced? How can I say that a certain machine is > capable only of producing a certain no of good units everytime it is being > run? Any inputs will be highly appreciated. > > Eric > FAAI ############################################################## TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ############################################################## To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TECHNET ############################################################## Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information. If you need assistance - contact Gayatri Sardeshpande at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5365 ##############################################################