Quality cost reduction in digital camera manufacturing process

Abstract

This research aims to reduce the cost of quality from defects in a digital camera manufacturing process. The
research is started from collecting the cost of quality data and studying the occurred defect types by using
the Pareto diagram. Next, the defect types, chosen by the Pareto priority index, are analyzed to determine the
main causes by applying the failure mode and effect analysis technique. These causes are then ordered
according to the risk priority number and selected to determine the way to reduce the defects. In the
manufacturing process improvement, the chi-square test and full factorial design of experiment are applied. After the improvement, the defects are reduced from 4.21 percent to 0.85 percent and the cost of quality is
reduced from 1.27 million baht per month to three hundred thousand baht per month. In addition, the risk
priority numbers are decreased 80 to 90 percent.