Six Sigma Improvement Project for Automotive Speakers in an Assembly Process

Authors

  • Adan Valles Research and Graduate Studies Division Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology
  • Salvador Noriega Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Institute of Engineering and Technology Autonomous University of Cd. Juárez
  • Jaime Sanchez Research and Graduate Studies Division Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology
  • Erwin Martinez Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Institute of Engineering and Technology Autonomous University of Cd. Juárez
  • Jesús Salinas Research and Graduate Studies Division Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2009.16.3.264

Keywords:

Six Sigma, Gauge R&R studies, quality improvement

Abstract

This Six Sigma application examined an automotive speaker production process in a multinational corporation twin plant. The process was a semiautomatic assembly operation. A six index assembler chemically bonded a coil to a diaphragm.  The problem is described in the first part of the paper, which pinpoints the separation between those two parts. This is a critical process characteristic that was not properly controlled. Operations were malfunctioning. High scrap and rework rates, and high levels of in process inventory as well as inspection stations all contributed to the problem. Variables were measured to determine the problem with accuracy. The fixture and tool capabilities were estimated in the analysis as well. The authors found that the large variation could be attributed to the product and operator procedure. Variation in the product was determined to be explained by unsuitable fixtures and tools. This resulted in having the fixtures and tools re-dimensioned and re-designed. Measurements were then taken to determine whether the improved process design would make significant contributions.  A control process and operating procedures were established to insure that the initial process conditions would not be repeated.                   

Author Biographies

Adan Valles, Research and Graduate Studies Division Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology

Salvador Noriega, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Institute of Engineering and Technology Autonomous University of Cd. Juárez

Salvador A. Noriega is a Professor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Head of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at the Universidad Autónoma de Cd. Juárez. He has the Masters and Dr. Sc. Degrees in Industrial Engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico de Cd. Juárez. His areas of specialty include manufacturing-technology strategies, quality improvement and ergonomics. Coauthor of a book about Occupational Ergonomics published by the International Journal of Industrial Engineering Press.

Jaime Sanchez, Research and Graduate Studies Division Cd. Juarez Institute of Technology

Jaime Sanchez is a Professor and former Principal of the Instituto Tecnologico de Cd. Juarez. He has Bachelor and Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Instituto Tecnologico de cd. Juarez and also has a Master Degree in Mathematics and a Ph. D. in Industrial Engineering from New Mexico State University. His areas of specialty include applied statistics, statistical quality control, and experimental optimization, design of experiments, response surface methodology and mathematical programming. He is author of two books of statistics and design of experiments and co-author of a number of national and international journal publications.

Downloads

How to Cite

Valles, A., Noriega, S., Sanchez, J., Martinez, E., & Salinas, J. (2009). Six Sigma Improvement Project for Automotive Speakers in an Assembly Process. International Journal of Industrial Engineering: Theory, Applications and Practice, 16(3), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2009.16.3.264

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2009): Special Issue: Six Sigma - Its Application, Practice and Utility

Section

Production Planning and Control

License

The Author(s) must formally transfer each article's copyright before publication in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. Such transfer enables the Journal to defend itself against plagiarism and other forms of copyright infringement. Your cooperation is appreciated.

You agree that the copyright of your article to be published in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING - THEORY, APPLICATIONS, AND PRACTICE is hereby transferred, throughout the World and for the full term and all extensions and renewals thereof, to INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING - THEORY, APPLICATIONS, AND PRACTICE.

The Author(s) reserve(s): (a) the trademark rights and patent rights, if any, and (b) the right to use all or part of the information contained in this article in future, non-commercial works of the Author's own, or, if the article is a "work-for-hire" and made within the scope of the Author's employment, the employer may use all or part of the information contained in this article for intra-company use, provided the usual acknowledgments are given regarding copyright notice and reference to the original publication.

The Author(s) warrant(s) that the article is Author's original work and has not been published before. If excerpts from copyrighted works are included, the Author will obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the article's sources.

The author also warrants that the article contains no libelous or unlawful statements and does not infringe on the rights of others. If the article was prepared jointly with other Author(s), the Author agrees to inform the co-Author(s) of the terms of the copyright transfer and to sign on their behalf; or in the case of a "work-for-hire," the employer or an authorized representative of the employer.

The journal does not provide the author copy of the final paper when it is published. The author(s) can make(s) a subscription to INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING - THEORY, APPLICATIONS, AND PRACTICE if they want to get the final paper that has already been published.

The journal is registered with the Library of Congress (ISSN # 1943-670X). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the journal.

The author reserves patent and trademark rights and the right to use all or part of the information contained in the article in future non-commercial works.