Case Study 1: Understanding Process Measurement Variation

Scenario

For this experiment you will need the following tools: 

A yardstick or meter stick

A tape measurer

Access to an entrance door that is 6 feet or taller

A group of 20 or more people (they do not have to be gathered at the same time, but it should be 20 different people that participate).

 

You will test Method 1 in this way: Identify a group of 20 or more people. You will ask the group of 20 or more people to measure the height of the entrance door that is approximately 6 feet or taller. Be sure that the entrance door is the same for each member of the group. Each person will measure the height of the door using the yardstick or the meterstick and will silently report the measurement to you or to someone you have designated as the data collector. You will then tabulate the data and plot each measurement on a run or sequence chart. No deviation from the prescribed method is allowed.

 

In method 2, you may use the same, or a different, group of 20 or more people and the same or a different entrance door. This time, the group will use the tape measure in any way the group members desire. Again, each person silently reports the measurement of the entrance door to you or a designated data collector, and you will tabulate and plot each data point.