# Measurement System Analysis (MSA) Plan Template

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/measurement-system-analysis-plan-template
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

Plan MSA for a part or control plan: which measurement systems, which studies, acceptance criteria, owners and due dates.

## Category

quality

## Industry

Automotive and Aerospace

## Audience

- Quality engineer
- Supplier quality
- APQP team

## Tool

**Kind:** template

**Output:** document

**Fields:**

#### Company

**Key:** company

**Type:** text

**Default:** Acme Precision Ltd

#### Part number and name

**Key:** part

**Type:** text

**Default:** BRK-1001 Mounting bracket

#### Customer

**Key:** customer

**Type:** text

**Default:** Example OEM

#### Plan date

**Key:** date

**Type:** date

**Default:** 2026-10-19

#### Plan owner

**Key:** owner

**Type:** text

**Default:** Quality engineer

#### Measurement systems in scope

**Key:** systems

**Type:** textarea

**Default:** 1. Digital caliper CAL-0045 for outside width 100 mm
2. CMM for hole position
3. Visual inspection of surface finish (attribute)

#### Acceptance criteria

**Key:** criteria

**Type:** select

**Options:**

- Gage R&R under 10 percent, acceptable
- Gage R&R 10 to 30 percent, conditional
- Customer specific criteria

**Default:** Gage R&R under 10 percent, acceptable

#### Sample plan

**Key:** sample

**Type:** text

**Default:** 10 parts, 3 appraisers, 3 trials, parts chosen across process range

#### Complete by

**Key:** due

**Type:** date

**Default:** 2026-11-15

**Blocks:**

#### Measurement System Analysis Plan

**Body:** {{company}}
Part: {{part}}
Customer: {{customer}}
Date: {{date}}
Owner: {{owner}}

#### Measurement systems in scope

**Body:** {{systems}}

#### Study matrix

**Table:**

**Columns:**

- Measurement system
- Study type
- Sample
- Owner
- Due

**Rows:**

**0:** Digital caliper

**1:** Variable gage R&R

**2:** {{sample}}

**3:** {{owner}}

**4:** {{due}}

**0:** CMM

**1:** Variable gage R&R

**2:** {{sample}}

**3:** {{owner}}

**4:** {{due}}

**0:** Visual inspection

**1:** Attribute agreement

**2:** 30 to 50 samples, 3 appraisers

**3:** {{owner}}

**4:** {{due}}

**0:** All systems

**1:** Bias, linearity, stability

**2:** Per gage

**3:** Metrology

**4:** {{due}}

#### Acceptance criteria

**Body:** {{criteria}}

Also review the number of distinct categories, which should be 5 or more for variable data, and confirm gage resolution is fine enough for the tolerance.

#### Actions if criteria are not met

**Body:** Investigate the main sources of variation, improve fixturing, training or resolution, repeat the study, and record the decision in the control plan.

#### Approvals

**Signatures:**

- Quality engineer
- Quality manager
- Customer representative (if required)

**Notes:** A planning aid that follows common AIAG MSA practice. Your customer or contract may specify different acceptance criteria and sample sizes, so confirm before use.

## Content

**Intro:** Before measurement data can support a PPAP or a process decision, the measurement systems need to be shown capable. An MSA plan lists which systems need which studies, who owns them and when they are due.

**Sections:**

#### What to put in the plan

**Body:** Start from the control plan and list every measurement system used for special or key characteristics. For each, pick the right study: variable gage R&R for continuous data, attribute agreement analysis for pass-fail or visual checks, and bias, linearity and stability for the gage itself. State the sample, acceptance criteria, owner and due date.

**Bullets:**

- One row per measurement system and characteristic
- Choose parts that cover the process range, not just good parts
- Include appraisers who actually do the job

#### Acceptance guidelines

**Body:** Under common AIAG guidance, a gage R&R under 10 percent of tolerance or total variation is generally acceptable, 10 to 30 percent may be acceptable depending on the application and cost, and above 30 percent is generally unacceptable. The number of distinct categories should be at least five. Customers can set stricter rules, so confirm them in the contract or quality manual.

#### Linking to APQP and the ERP

**Body:** MSA is part of APQP and PPAP deliverables in automotive and appears in aerospace supplier requirements. Record study results against the gage and part in your quality system or ERP inspection plan, so the evidence is available at audit. Re-run studies after major changes in gage, fixture, method or appraisers.

**Cta:** Netray can help organize MSA evidence and inspection plans from your ERP data, deployed privately.

**Faq:**

#### When is an MSA study required?

**Answer:** Typically during APQP and PPAP for characteristics in the control plan, and when a measurement system is new or changed. Some customers require periodic repeats. Check your customer-specific requirements.

#### Which study for visual inspection?

**Answer:** Use an attribute agreement analysis, comparing appraisers to each other and to a known reference. Variable gage R&R does not apply to pass-fail judgments.

#### How many parts and trials?

**Answer:** A common plan is ten parts, three appraisers and two or three trials. Larger samples give better estimates. Confirm any customer-specified sample size.

#### Who should own the plan?

**Answer:** Usually the quality or manufacturing engineer responsible for the control plan, with metrology supporting the studies. Assign a named owner for each row.

## Search terms

msa plan template, measurement system analysis plan, msa study planning form, apqp msa plan, ppap msa requirements, gage study plan template

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