6 Sigma in Investment Casting: A Scientific Method for Improvement

摘要

One of the difficulties inherent to the Investment Casting process is the many variables that influence final results. When fixing problems or trying to improve the results on a certain product there is always the difficulty of how to orientate the improvement actions within so many variables. How can we anticipate that the selected measures will be successful? . How can we go beyond the threshold of experience or intuition in order to drive forward the appropriate improvement actions? On the other hand is generally admitted within the investment casting community the paradigm of living with defects , scrap and rework are constitutional to the investment casting process , specially within the complex castings. 6 sigma can drive this cultural change , whilst supporting the improvement actions in a way that there is a link between the "y's" and the "x's", brings along a quality culture that is disseminated through the organization via the individuals that participate in the different improvement projects (6 sigma initiatives) This paper explains the approach to 6 sigma as carried out from PCB . Relatively new to the world of investment casting (the company started its commercial operations at the end of 2001), PCB identified the "6 sigma" method for improvement as the strategical tool to drive the improvement either in product , manufacturing or management processes or to promote a quality oriented culture within the organization.