Variation Stack-Up Analysis Using Monte Carlo Simulation for Manufacturing Process Control and Specification

Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management > Volume 22(4); 1994 > Article

Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management 1994;22(4): 79-.

ABSTRACT

In modern manufacturing, a product consists of many components created by different processes. Variations in the individual component dimensions and in the processes may result in unacceptable final assemblies. Thus, engineers have increased pressure to properly set tolerance specifications for individual components and to control manufacturing processes. When a proper variation stack-up analysis is not performed for all of the components in a functional system, all component parts can be within specifications, but the final assembly may not be functional. Thus, in order to improve the performance of the final assembly, a proper variation stack-up analysis is essential for specifying dimensional tolerances and process control. This research provides a detailed case example of the use of variation stack-up analysis using a Monte Carlo simulation method to improve the defect rate of a complex process, which is the commutator brush track undercut process of an armature assembly of a small motor. Variations in individual component dimensions and process mean shifts cause high defect rate, Since some dimensional characteristics have non-normal distributions and the stack-up function is non-linear, the Monte Carlo simulation method is used.