Design an experiment that will assist process engineers use

Assignment Help Business Management

Reference no: EM133529784

Problem

Case Study: The Case of the Variable Laminates

A plywood manufacturer has asked for your assistance in solving a problem in the log-peeling operation. The peeling process consists of soaking de-barked logs in a hot bath, fixing the logs in chucks, and rapidly spinning them while shaving off a continuous thin section called a lamination with a sharp knife blade. The laminations are then cut into sheets to be laid up, glued, and pressed into plywood sheets. The manufacturer is having difficulty maintaining a controlled thickness when peeling laminations from a log.

Discussions with engineering and the process operators indicate that four variables are related to laminate thickness: soak time, soak temperature, knife pressure, and knife setting. The knife setting is pretty straight forward and is not felt to be a source of variation in the process. Specifications call for logs to be soaked for 60 minutes, but no process control for this process is in place. Some logs are peeled after as little as 30 minutes soak time. The operators believe that this causes some of the variation, but they are under the gun to keep the peeler busy, even if it means compromising on the soak time. The engineers feel that knife pressure may contribute to the thickness variation. Knife pressure setting is not standardized-operators set it between 250 psi and 300 psi based on their experience. Soak temperature varies between 150 degrees and 200 degrees, depending upon how much bark has accumulated around the heating coils.

Thickness measurements are made every 15 minutes on the laminate. The variation does not seem to follow a particular pattern.

Design an experiment that will assist the process engineers in determining what actions to take to reduce laminate thickness variation. Provide them with your assessment of the causes of the variation and how to use the results of the experiment to define the optimal operating conditions for the process.

In your case analysis, be certain to answer the following questions:

Question A. Design an experiment that will assist the process engineers use in determining what actions to take to reduce laminate thickness variation. Include an assessment of the variables that may be the cause of sub-optimized output.

Question B. How would you evaluate the organization on the concept of "repeatable work? What recommendations would you have to standardize the manufacturing process? Why is repeatable work so important in continuous improvement activities?

Reference no: EM133529784

Questions Cloud

How might your assumptions affect your practice as a helper : How might your assumptions affect your practice as a helper with people who are different from you?

What does this thinking represent : Justin continues sharing that this will be a great career choice because of the ability to work anywhere and make good money. What does this thinking represent?

Discuss key areas for improvement within the health system : Critically appraise recent attempts at health system reform, identifying the weaknesses and making recommendations to strengthen the reform

What are the differences between the next of kin : What are the differences between the next of kin, a medical treatment decision maker, a support person, a power of attorney, and a guardian in relation to Ben?

Design an experiment that will assist process engineers use : Design an experiment that will assist the process engineers use in determining what actions to take to reduce laminate thickness variation.

Develop the point in three pages maximum plus references : Develop the point in three pages maximum plus references.

Analyze your current gender as woman : Analyze your current gender as a woman. What are some examples of how you are gender normative? What are some examples of how you are gender deviant?

Refer to the investment opportunity for 2024 : Refer to the investment opportunity for 2024 (the purchase of a new machine) and calculate the following. (Ignore taxes.) *Accounting Rate of Return on average

Which style is your dominant or preferred style : You have covered different styles or leadership theories. Of those covered in your text, which style is your dominant or preferred style?

User Account

All Pages