Laboratory-Scale Experimental Design to Establish the Optimum Conditions for Chrome Plating Process: A Case Study

Abstract

This paper aims to determine the optimum conditions in Chrome plating process for ABS products by using laboratory-scale experimental design, and taking a company in Chrome plating industry as a case study. This study is composed of two main parts; 1) screening design using a 2-level factorial design to find the few significant factors from a list of potential ones, and 2) analysis for the optimum levels of the factors using a 3-level factorial design and response surface methodology. The response used is the percentage of defects found in plated brass. The results of the study found that screening factor is able to reduce number of the factors from 6 to 4. Then the finding of conducting 3-level factorial design is that four factors significantly affect the response of percentage of defects found in brass specimen, at the 5% significant level. By using response surface method provides the Quadratic model which shows the relationship between four factors on the response. The information as appropriate factor levels in laboratory-scale experimental will be as a guideline for this company to reduce the amount of produced defect and to improve the surface quality of Chrome plating.