IATF 16949:2016 clause 7.1.5.1.1 requires measurement systems analysis (MSA) to quantify gage and instrument variation. The deliverables of the generally accepted procedure are the repeatability or equipment variation, and the reproducibility or appraiser variation. The Automotive Industry Action Group¹ adds an analytic process with which to quantify the equipment variation (repeatability) of go/no-go gages if these come in specified dimensions, or can be adjusted to selected dimensions.

The anvils of a snap gage can, for example, be set accurately to specified dimensions with Johansson gage blocks. Pin gages (also known as plug gages), on the other hand, come in small but discrete increments. If the precision to tolerance (P/T) ratio is greater than the generally accepted target, the gage cannot distinguish reliably between good and nonconforming product near the specification limits. This means nonconforming work will reach internal or external customers, while good items will be rejected, as shown in figure 1 below.

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