Application of Quality Tools to Reduce Failure Identification in an Automotive Production Line

Abstract

Quality tools utilization is a reality in several industry segments, including automotive. Its adoption comes from the business needs of more robust and reliable process, promoting actions that reduce deviations and losses related to rework, through teamwork activities and easy visualization graphic tools that reach all operation levels. This case study found the effectiveness of quality tools application on an engine factory with the target to solve issues related to identification issue and increase process traceability through a Kaizen activity, where during a discussion were utilized some quality tools such as Pareto Analysis, Ishikawa diagram, 5 Whys, 5W1H and brainstorming. As results, it was possible to reach more than 50% evolution on the engines identification inconsistencies indicator. At the end of the study, it was found too additional benefits that came from a cross-functional team with several departments from the studied factory, such as paper waste reduction and simple automation tool application within logistic process, items that align the production process to the market demand of paperless concept application and increase the process automation level.