Improvements in Manufacturing Processes by Measurement and Evaluation Studies According to the Quality Management System Standard in Automotive Industry

Abstract

The original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers have great importance in automotive manufacturing industry at all over the world. The industry has led the way by technological advancement, innovation and economic growth throughout the industrial history. The most important quality management standard known for the manufacturers of the automotive industry, which has such a great importance for the world, is the quality management system standard numbered 16949 prepared by IATF (International Automotive Task Force). The latest version of the standard in 2016 was created for the industry with the contribution of original equipment manufacturers, suppliers and interested parties. In this study; some basic quality techniques recommended by IATF 16949: 2016 were applied in one of the leading automotive supplier enterprises in Istanbul, Turkey. Some of these standard techniques like measurement systems analysis and data evaluation studies have been applied mainly on metrological activities and their effects on manufacturing processes have been observed. It has been firstly realized that the quality techniques helped to prevent the errors before they occur thus; it leads to increase the quality and the efficiency of the production. Additionally, the processes were better observed and better controlled. Moreover, the communication with the customers was more effective than before by mutually understanding. Finally, it became possible to identify the problems in measurements clearly by analyzing the measurement systems through scientific methods. The all helped to improve the manufacturing processes performance.