Title: Improving the ergonomic design of transmission oil cooler hoses: a case study

Authors: Mahmoud Awad, Jamison V. Kovach

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, ALHOSN University, P.O. Box 38772, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ' Department of Information and Logistics Technology, College of Technology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA

Abstract: Taguchi methods are often used in industrial applications to redesign existing products or processes within the context of Six Sigma projects. Within the field of product development, ergonomics related issues are becoming increasingly important due to their direct effect on efficiency and productivity. This paper presents a case study within the automotive industry to illustrate how Taguchi methods can be used to redesign transmission oil cooler (TOC) assembly hoses to minimise insertion forces while optimising seal integrity and reduce the potential for leaks. The push-on and pull-off forces for TOC hoses are examined through an experimental study. The results obtained are compared against the original parameter settings to determine the degree of improvement achieved through this study for each design parameter.

Keywords: industrial ergonomics; hose insertion; Taguchi methods; ergonomic design; hose design; transmission oil cooler; TOC hoses; automotive hoses; automobile industry; insertion forces; seal integrity; leaks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEDPO.2011.040263

International Journal of Experimental Design and Process Optimisation, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.125 - 144

Published online: 11 Oct 2014 *

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