QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF THERMOFORMING PROCESS USING SIX SIGMA METHODOLOGY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher for M. Sc. Degree, Dept. of Prod. Eng. and Mech. Design, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufiya University, Egypt.

2 Associate Professor, Dept. of Prod. Eng. and Mech. Design, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufiya University, Egypt.

3 Professor, Dept. of Prod. Eng. and Mech. Design, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufiya University, Egypt.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The importance of quality has been recognized in the business environment in order
to obtain or produce higher quality products. In a manufacturing environment,
process tends to produce defects due to various reasons which can be improved by
identifying and eliminating them using Six Sigma methodology. In this paper, DMAIC
(Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) approach has been used to
reduce the number of rejected thermoformed inner liners of home refrigerator. In
define phase, problem was defined by determining the main category of defects. In
measure phase, data were collected to determine the current performance and the
process capability. In analyzing phase, root causes of main defects were identified.
In improvement phase, corrective actions and solutions were determined and finally
in control phase, various procedures were implemented for tracking the process and
putting it under control. The results showed that process quality was improved
through reduction in defects from about 123000 ppm to about 55000 ppm.

Keywords