مجتمع بهبود مستمر سیستم های اندازه گیری به کنترل کیفیت آماری فرآیندهای تولید: لینک جدید

Reliability in measurements is a requirement for quality-oriented organisations. A novel link is presented in this work for the integration of the continuous improvement loop of measurement systems into the statistical quality control of manufacturing processes. The proposal is based on the Index of Contamination of the Capability (ICC) and the Golden Rule of Metrology. It is expressed through clear-cut decision rules that consider the uncertainty of measurement, the intended use of the measurements and the risk of inaccurate measurements. The proposal makes it possible to improve production quality. To facilitate its application, an equivalent graphical approach is provided.

Reliability in measurements is a necessary requirement for all quality-oriented organisations looking to efficiently control manufacturing processes. In fact, Six Sigma methodology, which is one of the most important methodologies for controlling and improving process and product quality, considers the assessment of measurement systems as one of its main objectives for success. Metrology should be understood as an integral part of the production process that must be optimised as a whole [1]. The international standard ISO 10012:2003 [2], which guides the implementation of measurement management systems, is useful for the control and the improvement of measurement activities and of product quality as well as for meeting metrological requirements. To integrate the continuous improvement loop of measurement systems that is consistent with such a standard into the statistical quality control of manufacturing processes, a novel link is proposed in the present work. Among the main novelties introduced in this paper, the following are indicated: the new link is based on a combined application of the ICC (Index of Contamination of the Capability) parameter [3] and the Golden Rule of Metrology [4]; the proposal provides clear-cut decision rules that make it possible to improve production quality; to make the implementation of this novel link easier, an equivalent graphical approach is established. The proposal considers the intended use of the measurements, among other characteristics. In particular, manufacturing process capability determination is considered as the final end of performed measurements. This represents a fundamental activity in programs for process quality improvement, such as the Six Sigma methodology mentioned above, and thus, the proposal in this paper is of great practical interest to manufacturing industries. Furthermore, the decision rules provided take into account the measuring equipment metrological characteristics — the uncertainty of measurement [5] in concrete — when assessing the quality of manufacturing processes, as suggested by previous research [6].

A novel link that promotes the integration of the continuous improvement of measurement systems and the statistical quality control of production processes monitored by such a system has been proposed in this paper in accordance with the international standard ISO 10012:2003. The novel link is based on a combined application of the ICC parameter and the Metrological Golden Rule. Clear-cut decision rules regarding adequate and inadequate measurement systems and manufacturing processes were established to be used for controlling the quality of the manufacturing processes throughout measurements. To facilitate the application of the decision procedure for practitioners, an equivalent graphical approach has been generated with two operational boundary curves. These curves establish uncertainty-to-tolerance ratios consistent with observed process capabilities and also distinguish two types of inconsistencies (ICC < 58 and ICC > 91) that are detectable and are rectified by the proposed decision procedure. The proposal, which is easy to implement in practice, will help the manufacturing industries in making the best decisions for the measurement system and the manufacturing processes in an integrated and efficient way to achieve the desired production quality.