Title: Operational efficiency in manufacturing process using design of experiments

Authors: Sharad Chaturvedi; Deepankar Chakrabarti

Addresses: Fortune Institute of International Business, Plot No. 5, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Opp R&R Hospital, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi – 110057, India ' Fortune Institute of International Business, Plot No. 5, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Opp R&R Hospital, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi – 110057, India

Abstract: Design of experiments is a powerful statistical tool used in manufacturing and service industries to identify key factors and levels that influence process performance and variability. However, the usefulness of the technique of design of experiments is not apparently understood in many upcoming industries. In this paper, an application of design of experiments in a pharmaceutical industry producing base tablets have been carried out as a result of satisfying the voice of customer (VOC). The study carried out through screening, optimisation and verification stages validated the concept of design of experiments technique in achieving 14.5% improvement in the management of disintegration time of base tablets as required by the customer. The study results help the production unit to identify better parameter settings for production process.

Keywords: design of experiments; DOE; quality improvement; six sigma; voice of the customer; VOC; operational efficiency; manufacturing process; pharmaceutical industry; base tablets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2017.083111

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2017 Vol.7 No.2, pp.249 - 261

Received: 24 Apr 2015
Accepted: 25 Jul 2015
Published online: 21 Mar 2017 *

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