# First Pass Yield

**URL:** https://kaizumi.com/dictionary/first-pass-yield

**Description:** First Pass Yield (FPY) is the percentage of units that complete a process step correctly the first time without rework, repair, or rejection.

**Category:** six-sigma

**Tags:** metrics, quality, foundational

## Definition

First Pass Yield (FPY) is the percentage of units that successfully complete a process step without requiring any rework, repair, or scrap. It measures right-first-time quality at a single process step. Unlike final yield, which counts units that eventually pass (including after rework), FPY captures only those that pass on their first attempt. FPY is a building block for Rolled Throughput Yield and reveals process quality more accurately than metrics that hide rework.

## Examples

### Manufacturing

> An assembly station processes 100 units per hour. 8 require touchup, 2 go to repair, and 90 pass without intervention. FPY = 90/100 = 90%. Even though all 100 eventually ship (100% final yield), FPY reveals that 10% require extra handling.

### Healthcare

> A pharmacy fills 200 prescriptions daily. 15 require pharmacist correction before dispensing. FPY = 185/200 = 92.5%. All prescriptions eventually go out correctly, but FPY shows that 7.5% have errors requiring intervention.

### Administrative

> A data entry team processes 500 records daily. Quality checks find 40 requiring correction. FPY = 460/500 = 92%. While final accuracy after corrections is 99.5%, FPY reveals the true error rate before quality catches problems.

## Key Points

- FPY = (Units passing first time) / (Total units processed) × 100%
- Does not include units that passed after rework, repair, or retesting
- FPY for multiple steps multiplied together gives Rolled Throughput Yield
- More accurate quality indicator than final yield metrics

## Common Misconceptions

**FPY and yield are the same.** Traditional yield counts everything that eventually passes, hiding rework. FPY is stricter—only counting first-time success. A step might have 99% yield but only 85% FPY due to rework loops.

**100% FPY is the goal.** While high FPY is desirable, the optimal target depends on economics. If rework cost is low and prevention cost is high, 95% FPY might be economically optimal. Context determines appropriate targets.

## Related Tool

Stack each step's work content against takt time to see where rework loops bloat the cycle and drag down first pass yield — find the focus area with the [operator balance chart builder](/tools/yamazumi).

Source: https://kaizumi.com/dictionary/first-pass-yield
Licence: free to quote and cite with attribution to Kaizumi.