Engineering Optmization Experiments Applied to Welded Joints

This paper presents a weld process improvement, where it was obtained quality and productivity gains, through full productive process control.

Using Design of experiments methodology (D.O.E), a pilot project was developed that consist of porous minimization at the welded joints of McPherson's shock absorbers struts, that could result in efficiency loss in the shock absorber struts with products image deterioration.

This work is part of the D.O.E. methodology application at COFAP, that has the target to develop this ability looking for to attend APQP Handbook - Advanced Product Quality Planning and Control Plan of QS-9000.

Together with an consultant company a work group was created in order to disseminate the D.O.E. methodology in the COFAP - Suspension System Business Unity technical personnel.

The job phases are as follows:

1. 1.
   Problem definition;
2. 2.
   Planning;
3. 3.
   Logistic and structuring;
4. 4.
   DOE practical implementation;
5. 5.
   Results Collection;
6. 6.
   Results grouping;
7. 7.
   Analyzing;
8. 8.
   Application.

After this pilot job, the welding problem was solved, situation that was not able to be solved before.