Title: Application of Taguchi method to optimise the characteristics of green sand in a foundry

Authors: E.V. Gijo, Johny Scaria

Addresses: SQC and OR Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 8th Mile, Mysore Road, Bangalore 560059, India. ' Department of Statistics, Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, Kerala 686661, India

Abstract: This article addresses an approach based on Taguchi method for optimising the ingredients of green sand in a foundry. Permeability and compression strength were the important characteristics of green sand. Optimisation of these characteristics was done through the application of Taguchi method of experimentation. Three factors were identified and experimented in an L 9 (3 4) orthogonal array. Signal-to-noise ratio method was used to analyse the data and the best levels for these factors were selected. As a result of the experimentation, in addition to the identification of optimum levels for the ingredients, the proportion of Bentonite and coal dust were reduced considerably. This was leading to a large financial benefit for the company.

Keywords: Taguchi method; orthogonal arrays; noise factors; variance analysis; ANOVA; signal-to-noise ratios; permeability; green sand; compression strength; iron foundries; ingredient optimisation; experimentation; data analysis; Bentonite; coal dust; financial benefits; India; business excellence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2011.038788

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2011 Vol.4 No.2, pp.191 - 201

Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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