Defect analysis for quality and productivity improvements in a manufacturing system

摘要

Disparity in labour costs around the world make it difficult for manufacturers located in developed countries to compete with manufacturers located in developing countries. To offset this disparity, manufacturers in developed countries must improve productivity either by increasing the value of goods produced or by using fewer resources during production. The objective of this paper is to analyze the potential productivity gains associated with the elimination of manufacturing defects. Thirty-five manufacturing defects were tracked to learn their effect on the production system. Cost of correcting a manufacturing defect and customer dissatisfaction associated with discovery of a manufacturing defect were both used to determine the impact on productivity. Reducing the likelihood of defects is the most attractive option when dealing with manufacturing defects that can potentially reach the customer.