Statistics

Cp / Cpk Calculator

Measure process capability and centering using Cp and Cpk — so you can see whether your process consistently meets specification limits and where it sits relative to them.

Formulas
Cp  = (USL − LSL) ÷ (6σ)
Cpk = min[(USL − μ), (μ − LSL)] ÷ (3σ)

Enter your values

The highest acceptable value Enter a valid USL.
The lowest acceptable value Enter a valid LSL.
Average output of the process Enter a valid process mean.
Measure of process variation Enter a valid standard deviation (greater than 0).
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Ready to calculate

Enter your specification limits, process mean and standard deviation on the left, then press Calculate.

Capability results
Cp — Potential capability
Cpk — Actual capability
Process centering
What this means

Process Distribution vs Specification Limits
Normal distribution of your process output relative to USL and LSL
Defect zone
Within spec
LSL / USL
Mean (μ)
How to Improve Your Capability
Tailored recommendations based on your Cp and Cpk values
How it works

Understanding Cp and Cpk

Cp

Potential capability

Cp measures how much of the specification range your process variation occupies — assuming the process is perfectly centred. A Cp of 1.0 means variation exactly fills the spec range. Higher is better.

Cpk

Actual capability

Cpk accounts for where the process mean sits relative to the specification limits. It is always equal to or lower than Cp. A large gap between Cp and Cpk means the process is off-centre.

Target values

Most industries require a minimum Cpk of 1.33 for an established process and 1.67 for a new one. A Cpk below 1.0 means the process is producing output outside specification limits.