Accuracy and Precision

Ever confused with the terms Accuracy and Precision?

To be frank I was very much confused with these terms while was studying.

So, I just thought…

Why not clear your confusion with these terms.

Interested?

Ok then, Let’s check out the difference between them.

Firstly,

Why should you understand the difference? Why is it so important to learn?

Because….

Understanding accuracy and precision is important while designing the process control parameters.

Accuracy and precision of data is important for any quality control and quality assurance.

Shall we move on to learn what exactly these terms are?

Accuracy:

It is the degree of conformity or closeness of a measured value to the actual (true) value.

In simple language – accuracy is a measure of how close you are to your target value.

Precision: 

It is the reproducibility or repeatability, the degree to which further measurements or calculations show the same results.

In simple language – precision is a measure of how close your data are when you repeat the measurement.

Ok…

I understood that you are still in confusion with these terms.

Here you go.

I’ve go this for you to understand this.

Pictorial explanation for Accuracy & Precision

Accurate as well as Precise

All four attempts to hit the target (red dots) are near to the target (black center) as well as have the same location

Accurate but NOT Precise

All four attempts to hit the target (red dots) are equally away from the target (black center) but are hit at different locations

NOT Accurate but Precise

All four attempts to hit the target (red dots) are far away from the target (black center) but are hit at same locations

NOT Accurate & NOT Precise

All four attempts to hit the target (red dots) are away from the target (black center) as well as at different locations

Still confused???

Ok…

Check this example.

Let us take this example from a food manufacturing point of view.

Example:

Suppose…

A Food Tech Oil Industry manufactures 1 liter (1000 ml) of mustard oil and packs in a PET Bottle. They use one continuous filling machine.

The quality executive measures the volume of oil filled in a bottle every hour and captures the data. The data for six-hour is as follows

Conclusion: NOT ACCURATE but PRECISE

The above data shows that the oil filling machine is NOT accurate as it is not filling 1000 ml of oil but is Precise as every time it is filling almost the same amount of oil in the bottle.

By now, I think you must get some idea.

Still confused??!!

Oh no..

Take a look at this video!!!

You want to learn more about these terms?

https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-accuracy-and-precision-609328

https://www.statisticshowto.datasciencecentral.com/accuracy-and-precision/

Wanna learn some more interesting topics from us?

https://foodtechpathshala.com/difference-b-w-quality-control-quality-assurance/