An Improvement on Target Costing Technique

The target costing technique, mathematically discussed by Sauers, only uses the $C_p index along with Taguchi loss function and $\bar{X}$-P control charts to setup goal control limits. The new specification limits derived from Taguchi loss function is linked through the $C_p value to $\bar{X}$-P control charts to obtain goal control limits. Studies have shown that the point estimator of the $C_p index, $C_p, could vary from time to time due to the sampling error. The suggested approach is to use confidence intervals, especially the lower confidence intervals, to replace the point estimator. Therefore, an improvement on target costing technique is presented by applying the lower confidence interval of the $C_p index and using both Taguchi and Spiring's loss functions together with $\bar{X}$-P charts to make this technique more robust in practice. An example is also provided to illustrate how the improved target costing technique works.