Chapter 6: Process Technology and Quality Control Flashcards
What are the advantages of using tech (Computer Numerical Control) to control processes instead of human workers?
Increased Precision, Speed of Production, Can link to computer aided design software to link design and build, Machines can work for a longer time at a lower cost.
How do robots complement CNC?
They provide extended flexibility through programming, a great example is the one arm robots used in all manufacturing factories.
What are Automated Guided Vehicles?
They are vehicles commonly found in warehouses that move based on pre defined programs and not live human input.
How are AGVs beneficial?
They reduce costs and increase efficiency, using guided gps or lanes they can be safe, they also use obstacle detection software. They can replicate forklifts and other complex machines.
What are flexible manufacturing systems? How are they flexible (2)?
Manufacturing Systems that can be adapted rapidly to change product or volume. They can be [1] Machine Flexible (Reset and alter the system quickly using a UI program) or [2] Route Flexibility (Can set custom routes for different products which ignore revisit certain machines).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of flexible manufacturing?
Advantages: Works with a ‘Just in Time’ Process, Lower Lead Time, Reduced Transport Time, Can tailor parts due to flexibility, Reduced costs of labor (long term).
Disadvantages: Low return on investment of less than 10%, Extremely expensive start up cost but does reduce long term rent, labor and machinery costs.
What is computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)?
When computers directly change the manufacturing process based on a Customer UI Input. IT monitors part levels to maintain availability. Computer aided design, 3D printing and logistical robots can complement the system.
What is Quality?
Fitness for use designated by a combination of desired attributes.
What is Quality Control?
Processes to test quality.
What is Quality Assurance?
Maintenance to actively prevent quality issues.
What is Quality Management?
Humans overseeing all activities to maintain quality, set quality levels, means of quality control and future plans for quality assurance.
What are the two main costs of quality?
[1] Cost of Conformance: Improving quality by changing assurance protocols is expensive.
[2] Cost of Non-Conformance: Allowing low quality products has internal (broken systems) and external (refunds) failure costs.
What are the impacts of the costs of quality?
External: Loss of reputation and legal requirement to reimburse.
Internal: Goods teste in factories may highlight process problems that cost money to fix.
Appraisal: Inspection goods regularly is pricy but identifies routes of problems.
No Problem: Investing and Planning upfront can have smaller long term impact but a larger initial start up cost.
What is Total Quality Management (TQM) and how does it prevent wastage?
Continuous improvement in quality, productivity and effectiveness obtained by establishing management responsibility for process outputs. It prevents wastage by preventing unneeded costs on low quality products that have to be returned by managing input materials, design processes and equipment.
What is Six Sigma and which company uses the practice?
An approach to quality control designed by Motorola, they aim for the lowest possible component rejection rates (< 3.4 per million). It uses DMAIC [Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control/Maintain].
