Quality control for automotive paint process under lean Six Sigma environment

Abstract

Quality control is a fundamental aspect to ensure the efficiency of manufacturing processes, especially in industrial sectors where product safety is essential for users, as is the case in the automotive sector. In this work, the aim is to make engineering researchers and students aware of the development of the quality control process of the painting area within an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), under a Lean Six Sigma environment.

Lean Six Sigma is a philosophy that allows us to identify, focus and improve the quality of services and products, with an emphasis on waste elimination, focus on value-added steps and a statistical process that allows us to measure the capacity of our system to meet customer requirements trying to reach 3.4 defects per million through data-based decision making.

Quality control under Lean Six Sigma focuses specifically on the critical quality characteristics of a product, not the product itself. The final result of the product is always determined by what happens during the process, specifically it is based on prevention of defects and not control of defects. During the development of the project, the solution of a problem will be shown through the implementation of concepts and Statistical tools based on the DMAIC methodology.