Title: Reducing wear pad usage in a trepanning manufacturing process: a diagnostic methodology

Authors: Biman Das, James K. Hennigan, Michael D. Rolon

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 2X4, Canada. Department of Industrial Engineering, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA

Abstract: To identify the cause(s) for high consumption of wear pads in a trepanning manufacturing process, a diagnostic methodology was employed systematically. The methodology revealed that the first eight causes poor drill head design, manufacturing defect in drill head, manufacturing defect in wear pad, incorrect surface footage, incorrect feed rate, incorrect coolant flow and faulty work methods, had no impact on the wear pads usage. The problem identified was the ninth cause, the incorrect coolant mixture. By ensuring a proper coolant mixture level, it was possible to reduce wear pad usage between 125% and 280% in the three trepanning machines.

Keywords: trepanning; gun drilling; wear pad usage; coolant mixture level; diagnostic methodology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2001.001433

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2001 Vol.3 No.6, pp.623-634

Published online: 03 Jul 2003 *

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