A component used as a part of a power transmission unit is manufactured using a lathe.
Assignment 2 is weighted at 35% of the module assessment in total.
In Assignment 2 you are expected to review the brief below, become familiar with the data presented in the table, analyse it and answer the following questions. The assignment should be in the format of a report, following all relative academic guidelines.
Word Count
The total word count for this assignment is 2000 words. The word count excludes titles, tables, charts, graphs, appendices, references and bibliography lists.
Assignment Brief
A component used as a part of a power transmission unit is manufactured using a lathe.
Twenty samples, each of five components, are taken at half-hourly intervals. Within the flow of the day a number of (non-)technical incidents appear. These include taking a lunch break, and adjusting or resetting the machine.
For the most critical dimension, the process mean (x¯) is found to be 3.500 cm, with a normal distribution of the results about the mean, and a mean sample range (R¯) of 0.0007 cm.
With the above scenario in mind, complete the following tasks considering the data in this table Download data in this table.
- Use this information to set up suitable control charts.
- If the specified tolerance is 3.498 cm to 3.502 cm, what is your reaction? Would you consider any action necessary?
- The following table shows the operator’s results over the day. The measurements were taken using a comparator set to 3.500 cm and are shown in units of 0.001 cm. What is your interpretation of these results? Do you have any comments on the process and / or the operator?
Guidance:
For this assignment, you need to ensure that your calculations are correct and that you present your findings in your control charts. There is no need to copy and paste what is written in the assignment brief. You will need to explain the control diagrams and also explain how you did the calculus. Please remember to interpret the results. Think of yourselves as consultants who will help the quality improvement process of the organisation.
Structure:
The assignment should include the following structure:
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Main Body
- Conclusion
- References
Specific Instructions
1. Please refer to the rubric criteria to see how your assignment will be graded and all the areas that should be covered.
2. Please use the Turnitin test assignment submission to check your work for plagiarism before submitting.
3. Please ensure that your citing and referencing is according to Harvard Style.
Sample Answer
Introduction
Quality control is a crucial aspect of manufacturing, ensuring that components meet specified tolerances and maintain consistency. In this report, we analyze data collected from a lathe manufacturing process, where twenty samples of five components each were taken at half-hourly intervals. The goal is to determine process stability using control charts and evaluate whether corrective actions are necessary, given the specified tolerance range of 3.498 cm to 3.502 cm.
The provided data includes a process mean (xˉar{x}xˉ) of 3.500 cm and a mean sample range (Rˉar{R}Rˉ) of 0.0007 cm. With these parameters, control charts will be developed to assess whether the process is within statistical control. Additionally, an evaluation of the operator’s results will be conducted to identify potential concerns regarding process variation.
Control Charts Analysis
To establish control limits, we use the following formulas for an xˉar{x}xˉ-chart and an R-chart:
