Improving Quality by Optimizing the Controllable Parameters of Industrial Processes Using the Design of Experiments Method

Abstract

In the last few decades, quality improvement has evolved a lot. It has gone from temporary and limited measures concerning specific aspects of production to a general approach aimed at continuously mobilizing employees around objectives that affect the whole company. The improvement in quality results in innovative modifications in various fields such as the reduction or elimination of the number of faults in the good or service delivered, the reduction of waste (idle time, unnecessary travel, materials, etc..) and increasing the efficiency of work processes.The present research aims to present a study in order to improve quality by optimizing the controllable parameters of industrial processes using the design of experiments method (DoE). Our case study concerns the optimization of the parameters affecting the strength of drawn steel wires using response surface design.We proceed by the screening study after presenting the parameters. Screening study is implemented to eliminate negligible factors so that efforts may be concentrated upon just the important ones. By using response surface design on NEMRODW software, we developed a model that is validated statistically and experimentally through experience and ANOVA analysis. The correlation coefficient of this model (developed at 95% confidence interval) was calculated as 98.8%. This higher correlation coefficient explains the good agreement between estimated and experimental strength of drawn steel wires and then proved the strength of DoE methodology.