One of our customers requires us to address incoming sources of variation, product characteristics , process characteristics in the process flowchart.
Can we say that the 5M's (Man , machine,method,milieu, measurement system ) that affect the product characteristics are called process characteristics ?
Then, what are the incoming sources of variation for any process?

Can some send me an example to illustrate the method of addressing process characteristics in the process flow chart , PFMEA and control plan.

Have you looked at the AIAG's manuals? Number your processes. Make a characteristics matrix which gives each characteristic a number or other ID. Have a column on the flow chart, control plan and Process FMEA for characteristic numbers for each process step.

Anyone have anything to add at this late date for discussion purposes?

Anyone have anything to add at this late date for discussion purposes?

I don't know how useful this is to the current situation, but attached is my favorite generic process flow chart for analyzing performance (and that would include variation).

hi Andrews
Process characteristics here refers to the key product requirements that are to be mapped against the required customer features. Ex:chemistry and microstructure, internal stress, temperature, variation in the input level..etc..all this constitutes the key characteristics.
C whether this file can be helpful or not...not an example really..but a procedure..
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sm