IMPROVEMENT OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS IN A METAL WORKING COMPANY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL METHODS

Standards for the quality management system require the application of statistical methods and techniques for measuring, monitoring and process improvement in business practice. The paper addresses the application of statistical process control in the die forging process in a metal working company. The objective of this paper is the quality improvement of forging process through the combination of several statistical methods and techniques to achieve synergy effect. First was applied Pareto analysis and cause and effect analysis, followed by creation of control charts for production process of die forged pieces. From our point of view quality improvement means to meet both the requirements of customer on mechanical features and to ensure stability of the process. The smaller the variability of the input factor is, the better is the process capability and therefore a higher quality of product is produced. Improving the process capability and reducing the variability of the product quality characteristics can be achieved by means of applying statistical methods. So can be determined the process variability, identified common and special causes of variability and in consequence to propose corrective actions. The application of chosen statistical methods has improved capability of the forging process, increased its efficiency and achieved further continuous development of production programme.