Article: Development of a measurement metric for manufacturing process robustness Journal: International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management (IJPQM) 2010 Vol.6 No.2 pp.156 - 181 Abstract: Literature on the study on manufacturing process robustness is limited. Very often, process robustness is dealt with single-stage process and considers a single response variable. Moreover, the effect of operators and equipment on the overall process robustness is seldom studied. These shortcomings have led to the development of a new measurement metric for evaluating manufacturing process robustness which is presented in this study. The proposed metric considers the effects of input raw material, process operating conditions and equipment and operator performances in its development. The metric can be used for analysing both univariate and multivariate data. Partial contribution indices and multivariate S/N ratio are also developed. Three case studies were conducted in centrifugal casting, heat treatment and forging shops. From the results, it is also clear that when the robustness of a process increases, the multivariate S/N ratio increases and the transmitted variation reduces. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Development of a measurement metric for manufacturing process robustness

Authors: S.C. Mondal, J. Maiti, P.K. Ray

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Literature on the study on manufacturing process robustness is limited. Very often, process robustness is dealt with single-stage process and considers a single response variable. Moreover, the effect of operators and equipment on the overall process robustness is seldom studied. These shortcomings have led to the development of a new measurement metric for evaluating manufacturing process robustness which is presented in this study. The proposed metric considers the effects of input raw material, process operating conditions and equipment and operator performances in its development. The metric can be used for analysing both univariate and multivariate data. Partial contribution indices and multivariate S/N ratio are also developed. Three case studies were conducted in centrifugal casting, heat treatment and forging shops. From the results, it is also clear that when the robustness of a process increases, the multivariate S/N ratio increases and the transmitted variation reduces.

Keywords: multivariate S/N ratios; transmitted variations; measurement metrics; manufacturing process robustness; raw materials; operating conditions; operator performance; univariate data; centrifugal casting; heat treatment; forging shops; iron foundries; engineering industry; productivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2010.034404

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2010 Vol.6 No.2, pp.156 - 181

Published online: 02 Aug 2010 *

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Title: Development of a measurement metric for manufacturing process robustness

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