How to Reduce Costs Using a Tolerance Analysis Formula Tailored to Your Organization

Abstract

In volume production, a few pennies per unit can add up quickly. In such cases, it may be worth considering whether cheaper components might be used without jeopardizing quality. One element in many tolerance analyses is the formula used to relate product tolerances to component tolerances. This article (a) discusses deficiencies with traditional tolerancing, (b) outlines a simple procedure for converting process capability information into an improved tolerancing formula tailored to a specific class of products, and (c) describes how this analysis can contribute to substantive improvements in profits by helping to identify improvement opportunities in production.