Defective Gasket Pressure at Hydrolock Manufacturing
Synopsis
This caselet enables a discussion on the concept of Control Charts, using the dilemma at Hydrolock Manufacturing (HM) an upcoming manufacturing company in Chennai, India, as the backdrop. Within a few years of its inception in 2008, as the demand for its products increased, the company was under tremendous pressure to increase the output. But, this resulted in quality problems in the products. Significant numbers of defectives were reported in the customer feedback. Newly appointed Quality Analyst, Antony Joseph implemented Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to analyze the issue. Will the application of Statistical Process Control (SPC) help control the process?
Preconceptual Understanding and Before the Classroom Discussion
The participants were asked to read the following chapter given as mandatory readings at the end of the caselet to participate effectively and to enrich the learning outcomes:
- • Jay Heizer, et al., “Supplement 5: Statistical Process Control”, Operations Management, 9th Edition, Pearson Education, 2008
- • Richard I. Levin and David S. Rubin, “Chapter 10: Quality and Quality Control”, Statistics for Management, 7th Edition, Pearson Education, 2008
Case Positioning and Setting
This Caselet can be used in MBA/Executive MBA program for Operations Management course to illustrate ‘Statistical Process Control’ and exemplify ‘Control Charts’.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- • The concept of Control Charts
- • How to infer from control charts to improve the process
Assignment Questions
- I. What type of control chart would you apply, if you were the Quality Analyst at Hydrolock Manufacturing? Why?
- II. Is the process in-control at Hydrolock Manufacturing? Elaborate your analysis. What actions should be taken to revive customer satisfaction?
Suggested Orchestration
The classroom discussion and analysis for this caselet could be summarized and facilitated under two broad sections [Exhibit (TN)-I]...........