A common Process Capability measure, Cp (often called a Process Capability Index), indicates how well the process distribution fits within its specification limits, and is simply the ratio of the specification width to the variation width. Thus, in the figure above , processes (a) and (b) have Cp greater than one, (c) is equal to one and (d) is less than one.
The problem with Cp is that it does not take account of how well the process distribution is centered within its limits, which can result in a process with both a low Cp and many rejects. The solution to this is a second measure, Cpk, which measures a similar ratio, but considers only the variation half that is closest to the specification limits, as in the figure below. Thus Cp and Cpk, taken together, give a measure of both the potential and centering of the process distribution within the specification limits.
Process Capability measures are only as good as the data used, and there is plenty of opportunity for misinterpretation. In particular, Process Capability measurement is based on three important assumptions which are thus preconditions for valid calculations:
The process is in a state of statistical control, and there are no special causes of variation. The implication of this is that before Cp and Cpk can be measured, special causes must be found and eliminated. This may be done using the Control Chart over a period of time long enough to give confidence that this has been successfully completed.
The process distribution is bell-shaped or 'Normal', which allows the width of the distribution to be calculated as six times the standard deviation. In practice, there are many situations where the distribution is not normal, and in Process Capability measurement the Central Limit Theorem does not act to normalize this, as it does when using a Control Chart.