Fractional Factorial Project 1 Assignment

Purpose

This project allows you to demonstrate your mastery of the principles of statistics and design of experiments by implementing a process improvement project. The first assignment is to assess the current operational settings.

Process Description

You are to investigate the performance of an injection-molding machine used in the manufacturing operations of the Mouse Factory. The response (output) variable is density (of a molded part). Ideally, density should be maximized.

The range of settings for each factor is shown below. For safety reasons, the plant can not be operated above the upper range or below the lower range. Range checking is not performed and it is the experimenters responsibility to ensure that settings do not exceed the tabled minimum or maximum values.

Settings

Variable Minimum Maximum Units

Mold Temperature 100 200 degrees C

Injection Velocity 1 4 ft/sec

Mold Pressure 500 950 psi

Back Pressure 50 150 psi

Cooling Time 1 120 seconds

Assignment

You are to assess the initial setting using a statistical analysis. Provide information regarding the condition of the process and make both point and interval estimates for future values of density at the initial setting. The factor settings for the initial setting are available from the project website.

Initial Setting Analysis

Your analysis should contain three major components: a graphical analysis of density, a numerical summary of density and predictions of future performance of density in both a point estimate and interval estimate (with appropriate significance level).

Deliverables

You are to provide the following deliverables by the deadline:

A professional, type written technical report describing your analysis and findings. This report should contain a listing of your data and any output from statistical analysis software. Your technical report should be short, probably less than five pages including output for this assignment.

To assist you in completing this assignment, the rubric for this assignment is available and a report guide is also available.