Definition:
One PPM means one (defect or event) in a million or 1/1,000,000
In
the past a good supplier would have a defect rate of less
than 1%, (10,000 PPM). However, production and quality
control procedures have improved and expectation was increased
to 0.1% or 1,000 PPM. Now the rate for most connectors
and components is targeted at 25 PPM or 0.0025%
To
calculate: For example, if you had 25 pieces defective
in a shipment of 1,000 pieces. 25/1000= .025 or 2.5% defective.
.025 X 1,000,000 = 25,000 PPM.
Use
the PPM Calculator:
How
to calculate PPM is best explained in an example. Let's
say, a manufacturer produces 10,000,000 parts per year
for their customer. The manufacturers plant operates around
5 days a week, 50 weeks per year or 250 days a year in
most cases. Let's assume most customers requirements are
25 PPM. That means that the manufacturer would be allowed
25 pieces for every 1,000,000 pieces or 250 defective
parts per year. Or to put it another way, one bad part
per day! In this example we did not say one bad part per
day per person or job, or shift or machine. One bad part
for the entire plant for 24 hours! This is what Xmultiple
has achieved and we meet our customers expections for
the lowest possible defective rates.
This
rate is possible and even though many manufacturers still
are using the same manufacturing methods which were responsible
for the 5 or 10% scrap which use to be accept.
The
monitoring and measurement systems we have today have
paved the way for improved quality. We can now control
the process in order to control the quality. Quality can
not be inspected in after the fact. It is the result of
careful planning, design, and execution.
To
control our defective rate, Xmultiple uses a systematic
and scientific approach to design and manufacturing in
our facility. In addition, we use a high level of training
of our personnel in the use of the tools and methodology
so we can achieve these low PPM rates.