Process Variability and Capability in Candy Production and Packaging

ABSTRACT In this short, in‐class activity, students use fun size packages of M&Ms to study process variability, including a real‐world application of Cpk. How process variability and legal requirements force the company to put “Not Labeled for Individual Retail Sale” on each fun size package is discussed, as is the economics of changes the company would have to make to its processes to avoid this requirement. Variability in the weights of each candy, as well as information about the candy shell and chocolate center are also presented.