The Design for Six Sigma Approach for the Development of a Carbon Canister for Tier II, LEV II and PZEV Emission Levels

Global concerns involving smog, ozone formation, carcinogens and greenhouse gases have produced increasingly stringent governmental emission regulations worldwide.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced Tier II emissions regulations and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) established Low Emission Vehicles (LEV II) and Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) legislation. These initiatives have created the most stringent emissions regulations to date.

Vehicle manufacturers have had to improve their evaporative emission control systems to comply with these standards.

The evaporative emission control system is engineered to protect our environment from fuel vapor emissions. The carbon canister is the most important component of the evaporative emissions system due to its ability to capture fuel vapors continuously during the life of the vehicle.

Ford Motor Company redesigned its carbon canisters after utilizing Experimental Design techniques. These Experimental Design techniques used Design for Six Sigma methodologies.