A comprehensive model for process selection by considering offline and online quality control

Abstract

Offline and online quality control are vital aspects to maintain quality since they help to reduce the deviation of the target product and to avoid any out-of-control manufacturing conditions. In contrast to extant studies which only highlighted the importance of online quality control, this study proposes a new comprehensive model for process selection. It incorporates both offline and online quality controls, an excellent balance between the costs, tolerance as a quality requirement, and delivery time. In particular, the proposed model tries to optimize the total cost, which comprises the design, prevention, manufacturing, inspection-correction, and finishing costs as well as the loss of quality, by considering the tolerance and delivery schedule. This model then selects the process with the cheapest total cost, a tolerance level that is more lenient than the tightest tolerance, and a reasonable delivery time. A distinguishing feature of the presented model compared to other studies about process selection is that the costs are related to the product design, which makes this model compatible with more than one product design. The model is also robust to changes in some of the parameters. Therefore, it can be implemented in numerous situations.