The Robotron-Elotherm company is known for its expertise in power electronics for welding, induction bonding, and process heating. Originally known as Robotron, the company manufactured bonding products for the automotive industry for more than two decades in the 1960s and 1970s. For several years, Robotron felt it produced and delivered a high-quality product because it rarely received complaints from customers. However, early in the 1980s General Motors gave Robotron an order for induction bonding machines to cure adhesive in auto door joints. Actually, the machines were shipped to a Michigan plant of Sanyo Manufacturing that GM was using as a door builder.

1. As a part of quality improvement, it is highly likely that Robotron analyzed its manufacturing processes. Suppose that as Robotron improved quality, the company wanted to examine other processes including the flow of work orders from the time they are received until they are filled. Use the following verbal sketch of some of the activities that might take place in such a flow as a start, and add some of your own ideas as you draw a flowchart for the process of work orders. Work order flow: Received at mailroom. Sent to order processing office. Examined by order processing clerk who decides whether the item is a standard item or a custom item. If it is a standard item, the order is sent to the warehouse. If the item is available, the item is shipped and the order is sent to the billing department. If the item is not available, the order is sent to the plant where it is received by a manufacturing clerk. The clerk checks to determine whether such an item is being manufactured. If so, the order is sent to the end of the assembly line where it will be tagged with one such item. If not, the order is sent to the beginning of the assembly line and flows along the assembly line with the item as it is being made. In either case, when the part comes off the assembly line, the order is attached to the item and sent to shipping. The shipping clerk then ships the item and sends the order to billing. If the ordered item is a customized part, the order is sent straight from the order processing clerk to manufacturing where it follows the same procedures as already described for standard items that have not been manufactured yet.

2. Virtually all quality manufacturers use some type of control chart to monitor performance. Suppose the Minitab control charts shown here are for two different parts produced by Robotron during a particular period. Part 173 is specified to weigh 183 grams. Part 248 contains an opening that is specified to be 35 millimeters in diameter.

Study these charts and report to Robotron what you found. Is there any reason for concern? Is everything in control?

3. Suppose Robotron also keeps p charts on nonconformance. The Minitab chart shown here represents the proportion of nonconforming items for a given part over 100 samples. Study the chart and write a brief report to Robotron about what you learned from the chart.

Think about overall performance, out-of-control samples, samples that have outstanding performance, and any general trends that you see.

Transcribed Image Text:

X bar Chart of Part 173 230 220 E 210 3.0 SL 217.8 190 180 170 160 150 140 183.1 -3.0 SL 148.4 0 5 10 5 20 25 30 35 Sample R Chart of Part 173 150 3.0 SL= 127.2 100 尺 60.1 5 0 -3.0 SL 0.000 10 15 20 25 30 35 Sample X bar Chart of Part 248 3.0 SL 49.51 S 40 34.98 E 30 20 -3.0 SL20.45 0 5 10 5 2025 30 35 Sample R Chart of Part 248 60 50 40 30 20 3.0 SL 53.26 R 25.19 -3.0 SL 0.000 0 10 15 20 25 30 35 Samp P Chart 0.15 3.0 SL 0、1 1 59 E 0.10 0.05 0.03640 -3.0 SL 0.000 50 100 Sample