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Case Study 2: Electrostatic Powder Coating Process Optimization

(This case study is intended only to demonstrate general steps involved in experiment DESIGN and ANALYSIS
tasks.Qualitek-4 (DOS) software was used for all design and analysis output which are best viewed by Netscape
browser)

Process engineers and technicians in a high volume auto parts manufacturing plant used DOE to
optimize the Powder Coating Process for one of their motor housing components. During the planning
phase, the project team identified five factors and two interactions from a larger list of possible control
factors. In addition, the team members also identified three uncontrollable (Noise) factors the variations
of which are suspected to adversely affect the coating process. The control factors and their levels
included in the preliminary study are as shown below.

From the customer complaints and review of the production rejects, lack of uniform POWDER
THICKNESS, VOIDS, and BRIDGING were considered major product deficiencies. Powder/Coating
Thickness among them was of primary concern and was considered as the single objective of the current
study. The coating thicknesses obtained in current process range between .3 to .2 Mil(1/1000 inch). A
consistent higher thickness (QC=BIGGER IS BETTER) was desired.
An L-8 orthogonal array with seven 2-level columns was used for the experiment design. The location of
factors (columns 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7) and the columns reserved for the two interactions (columns 3 and 6)
are as indicated in the table above.

The three noise factors were assigned two levels each and were incorporated in the study by an L-4 outer
array. The outer array dictated that at least four separate samples be tested in each trial condition
exposing them to the combinations of the noise factors as prescribed by the design. (The trial condition
obtained by combining the control factors and the noise conditions from the noise factors are not shown
here)

One sample in each combination of the noise was tested under each trial condition. This meant that there
were four samples tested in each of the trial conditions. The results from each sample and the Signal to
Noise Ratios (S/N) for each trial results, are as shown below. As there are multiple results in each trial
condition, analysis using S/N ratios was performed.

In S/N analysis, all calculations are made using the single column of trial S/N values. Thus, all numbers
shown under Main Effect, ANOVA, and Optimum condition represent values in terms of S/N ratios.
Also, regardless of the quality characteristics of the original evaluation (in this case Bigger is Better),
bigger value, that is QC=Bigger, would always be the quality characteristic when carrying out S/N
analysis.
The average column effects of the control factors and the interactions included in the study, are as shown
below. Notice that, because there were two columns reserved for interactions, their influence in relation
to the influences of the other control factors, are shown directly here as well as in the ANOVA (later).
Whether any interaction columns is reserved or not, the presence of interactions between all possible
factor combinations, however, can always be calculated (see case study 1, standard Qualitek-4 option).
But, because PRESENCE does not necessarily mean SIGNIFICANCE, it is necessary to sacrifice
columns for suspected interactions as their significance can only be studied when they appear in the

ANOVA.

No matter which way the analysis is performed (S/N in this case), the average effects of the noise factors
are always calculated in terms of the original units of measurements. The noise factor effects calculated
below are all in terms of the measured coating thickness (Mil).

ANOVA of the control factor and the interactions included, indicates their relative influences (right most
column) to the variations of the results. To minimize the chance of identifying something while it is not,
it is a common practice to revise ANOVA by pooling insignificant factors. The revised ANOVA after
pooling the two insignificant (done by comparing the confidence level with the desired value) factors are
as shown below.

The performance at the optimum condition is estimated by considering only the significant factors and
interactions. Since the analysis was performed using the trial S/N ratios, the estimated value represent

the S/N ratio expected from a set of samples tested at the optimum condition.

Optimum condition shown above is determined from the main effects calculated above. But because
there are significant interactions, the levels of interacting factors are adjusted by examining the test of
presence of interaction plots.
The optimum factor levels are: Voltage (level 2), Air Box Pressure (level 1), and Brushing RPM (level
1). Review of interaction between Air Box pressure and Brushing RPM indicates (shown below) that the
desirable level combination is level 1 for Air Box and level 2 for Brushing(X1,Y2). This means that the
level of Brushing needs to be set to level 2.

Similarly, review of the interaction plot between factors Voltage and Air Box shows that level 2 of
Voltage and level 1 of Air Box(X2, Y1 shown below for Bigger S/N), which are same as originally

selected from the main effects, remain unchanged.

The corrected optimum factor levels are therefore are: Voltage (level 2), Air Box Pressure (level 1), and
Brushing RPM (level 2).
There is no need to recalculate the expected performance at the optimum performance as it already
includes the effect of significant interactions as shown in the optimum screen above.
Yopt = - 10.9008 in terms of S/N, which can be back-transformed to Y (expected) = .285 (in original
units)
The expected performance is also expressed with Confidence Interval (C.I.) at 80% confidence level as:
Lower limit... S/N = -11.284 ( 0.273 in the original units of measurement)
Mean Value.. S/N = -10.9008 ( 0.285 in the original units of measurement)
Upper limit... S/N = -10.517 ( 0.298 in the original units of measurement)
SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Significant Factors in Order of Influence:

Voltage (39.34 %)
Air Box Pressure (22.76 %)
Brushing RPM (0.92 %)

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS:
Average performance = -13.190 [S/N RATIO of all trials]
Optimum performance = -10.901 [S/N RATIO]
Improvement expected = 17.36 % [over the average performance, S/N]
EXPECTED SAVINGS: Savings = 40.97% (*)
* Savings(%) represents the percentage of $ loss at the current performance level. Thus if the current
loss (based on average performance) is $1, then the savings expected is 40 cents.
Savings in dollars can be calculated from Taguchi Loss Function, L = K (MSD) for multiple parts. MSD
can be calculated when S/N ratio is known. Lack of current performance status (in terms of S/N), the

savings in relation to loss at the average performance (average S/N of all trials) can be calculated using
the formula shown below. The savings calculation used these data: Improved design, (S/N)2 = -10.9008,
condition represented by average performance, (S/N)1 = -13.1900.
Savings = 1 - 10^(-13.1900 + 10.9008)/10 = 1 - .5903 = .4097 or 40.97%
Since MSD, S/N ratio, average, and standard deviations are all related, it is possible to draw the
expected distribution and also calculate the increase of performance capability (Cpk).

References

Text: A primer on the Taguchi Method by R. Roy

Training: 3-day seminar in Detroit area by Nutek, Inc.
Software: Qualitek-4 for Design and Analysis of Taguchi Experiments
Special Topics: Overview of DOE/Taguchi