Process Control at Polaroid
Introduction
Polaroid corporation has two major products in their instant film department: peel-apart and integral. In peel-apart technology, the user has to physically peel apart the two sides of the film envelope. The integral technology was much simpler with the camera automatically ejects the frame and development process starts instantaneously. R2 building is used to manufacture integral films. This particular building was showing signs of trouble, hence the company started to initialize a project called “Greenlight” to reduce cost and improve quality.
Process and the problems
Before the start of the project “Greenlight” QC auditors randomly sampled 15 cartridges …show more content…
Based on the data present in the case, control charts were created to identify trends in the efficiency of film production. Exhibit 3 in the case study represents base-line data collected at the beginning of Project Greenlight which is used to set the mean and values of the centerline for finger height and pod weight. To find the quality of film has improved or not after the implementation of the project, limits of acceptable process variation can be analyzed. Because the quality control process that existed before was to approximately 1% defect rate, new defect rate will be calculated against this value. Polaroid set control limit at 3 standard …show more content…
But exhibit 6 data (after the project greenlight) shows more variability in the observations as they are more farther outside of the control limits. Thus, it can be concluded that the statistic process mean before the quality control change was more stable than after the change.
Recommendations and Conclusions
Find and analyze the root-cause of problem
Most of the samples of finger height measurements are out of control. Company should analyze the cause of this problem so they can prevent the problem in the future. Also, Polaroid can cost of quality control can be reduced after finding the cause.
Train operators about the process
Company should ensure everyone follow the process so that they have data to analyze and get the real picture
More communication
Strategies can only be implemented if the flow of information is proper within the company and everyone is aware of the challenges
Education of the management
Introduction
Polaroid corporation has two major products in their instant film department: peel-apart and integral. In peel-apart technology, the user has to physically peel apart the two sides of the film envelope. The integral technology was much simpler with the camera automatically ejects the frame and development process starts instantaneously. R2 building is used to manufacture integral films. This particular building was showing signs of trouble, hence the company started to initialize a project called “Greenlight” to reduce cost and improve quality.
Process and the problems
Before the start of the project “Greenlight” QC auditors randomly sampled 15 cartridges …show more content…
Based on the data present in the case, control charts were created to identify trends in the efficiency of film production. Exhibit 3 in the case study represents base-line data collected at the beginning of Project Greenlight which is used to set the mean and values of the centerline for finger height and pod weight. To find the quality of film has improved or not after the implementation of the project, limits of acceptable process variation can be analyzed. Because the quality control process that existed before was to approximately 1% defect rate, new defect rate will be calculated against this value. Polaroid set control limit at 3 standard …show more content…
But exhibit 6 data (after the project greenlight) shows more variability in the observations as they are more farther outside of the control limits. Thus, it can be concluded that the statistic process mean before the quality control change was more stable than after the change.
Recommendations and Conclusions
Find and analyze the root-cause of problem
Most of the samples of finger height measurements are out of control. Company should analyze the cause of this problem so they can prevent the problem in the future. Also, Polaroid can cost of quality control can be reduced after finding the cause.
Train operators about the process
Company should ensure everyone follow the process so that they have data to analyze and get the real picture
More communication
Strategies can only be implemented if the flow of information is proper within the company and everyone is aware of the challenges
Education of the management