Failure Analysis and Improvement of Defective Clamping Pad During Leak Testing Process Using Kepner-Tregoe Analysis

Abstract

In industries, the breakage of the clamping pad in the leak testing machine is a common and challenging problem during product quality control process. In the same context, it becomes essential to identify the possible causes creating hindrance to component clamped on leak testing machine. This paper presents a systematic and iterative methodology for analysing the failure and providing possible improvements in clamping pad for the successful operation of leak testing machine. The investigation of working environment of leak testing machine, Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) analysis, seven quality control tools, and quality circle concept are used to provide the root cause of the cracks and failure of clamping pad. Based on the failure analysis, suitable actions are suggested and implemented with process redesign. The improved process design led to negligible failures from the preliminary failure rate. The entire methodology is universal in nature and can be employed for failure analysis in a wide variety of industrial problems.