The manufacturer produces critical safety components for the transportation industry. The aging honing machine caused inconsistent measurement results causing in unstable machining accuracy.
An employee from the production engineering division explained:
“We required a tolerance of five micrometers or less. We had to control variation during rough machining to achieve the required tolerance, which requires consistent measurement results and appropriate calibration. However, the honing machine had deteriorated over time causing calibration inconsistencies and measurement errors. As a result, the finishing process became unstable and the product quality varied.”
The increase in defective products further reduced the efficiency of the whole production line.
“Because of inconsistent machining accuracy, we frequently had to stop the production line and adjust the machine. This affected delivery schedules, and in turn, potentially impacted customer trust.”
In addition, the existing honing machine had been in operation for over 20 years. When repairs were requested, the machine supplier was slow to respond. Under these circumstances, updating the equipment became a priority for stabilizing measurement results.
