Process capability is well known in quality control literatures. Process capability refers to the uniformity of the process. Obviously, the variability in the process is a measure of the uniformity of output. It is customary to take the 6-sigma spread in the distribution of the product quality characteristic as a measure of process capability. However there is no reference of process capability when maximum material condition is applied to datum and position tolerance in GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing). If there is no material condition in datum and position tolerance, process capability can be calculated as usual. If there is a material condition in a feature control frame, bonus tolerance is permissible. Bonus tolerance is an additional tolerance for a geometric control. Whenever a geometric tolerance is applied to a feature of size, and it contains an maximum material condition (or least material condition) modifier in the tolerance portion of the feature control frame, a bonus tolerance is permissible. When the maximum material condition modifier is used in the tolerance portion of the feature control frame, it means that the stated tolerance applies when the feature of size is at its maximum material condition. When actual mating size of the feature of size departs from maximum material condition (towards least material condition), an increase in the stated tolerance-equal to the amount of the departure-is permitted. This increase, or extra tolerance, is called the bonus tolerance. Another type of bonus tolerance is datum shift. Datum shift is similar to bonus tolerance. Like bonus tolerance, datum shift is an additional tolerance that is available under certain conditions. Therefore we try to propose how to calculate process capability index of position tolerance when maximum material condition is applied to datum and position tolerance.

Designers have to consider voice of customer, process capability, manufacturing standards & condition, manufacturing method and characteristics of products to decide tolerances. Especially, in case of position of hole and pin, designers have to consider process capability to decide tolerances. The traditional position tolerances used in a drawing are theoretical values which are allocated to position under the worst case assembling condition that both hole and pin are the maximum material condition(MMC). However, when the process capability is high, more exact product size can be produced under stable manufacturing condition. Larger clearance of hole and pin can be allocated. In this point of view, manufacturer could increase the yield by allocating larger position tolerance than theoretical position tolerance of hole and pin considering process capability.

Designers have to consider voice of customer, process capability, manufacturing standards & condition, manufacturing method, characteristics of products to decide tolerances. Especially, in case of position of hole and pin, designers have to consider process capability to decide tolerances. The traditional position tolerances used in a drawing are theoretical values which are allocated to position under the worst case assembling condition that both hole and pin are the maximum material condition(MMC). However, When the process capability is high, more exact product size can be produced under stable manufacturing condition. larger clearance of hole and pin can be allocated. In this point of view, manufacturer could increase the yield by allocating larger position tolerance than theoretical position tolerance of hole and pin considering process capability.

It is the basic requirement of product characteristics to specify geometric dimensions and tolerances during design process of parts assembly. Therefore, there are many tolerance stack analysis method to explain tolerance zone. Tolerance stack analysis is to calculate gap using tolerances which includes geometric and coordinate dimension. In this study, we compared several different stack analysis method and try to suggest more general method called the Virtual Method to analyze tolerance stack.