Optimization of cable insulation eccentricity by Taguchi robust design

ABSTRACT

Reduction of the cable insulation eccentricity is an important proposition in the cable industry. In this paper, firstly a strong negative correlation between the insulation eccentricity and the signal-to-noise ratio of insulation thickness in nominal-the-best characteristics is obtained by correlation and regression analysis. Secondly, the methods of fault tree and risk priority number are used to determine three key factors. Finally, Taguchi robust design is used to optimize process parameters. Experimental results showed that the average thickness of insulation can be reduced from 4.52 mm to 4.31 mm and the average eccentricity of insulation can be reduced from 6.12% to 3.09%. Taguchi robust design can not only improve the product quality, but also save product costs and achieve significant economic benefits.

KEYWORDS:

• Robust design
• SNR
• eccentricity
• process optimization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71271114].

Notes on contributors

Yu-Ping Gu

Yu-Ping Gu is a lecturer in the School of Management Science and Engineering at Anhui University of Finance and Economics. She received her M.S. degree in School of Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. degree in School of Economics and Management both from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing. Her research activities include product quality control, management decision and data mining.

Long-Sheng Cheng

Long-Sheng Cheng is currently a professor in School of Economics and Management at Nanjing University of Science and Technology. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, in 1989 and 1998, respectively. His present research interests include data mining and management decision.

Li-Jiao Xu

Li-jiao Xu is a lecturer in the School of Automotive & Rail Transit at Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing. She received the M.S. degree in Mechatronic Engineering from the China University of Mining and Technology in 2006, and the Ph.D. degree in Vehicle Engineering from the Southeast University in 2015. Her present research interests include dynamics of gear system, structure optimization.

Xiang-Lai Chen

Xiang-lai Chen is currently a visiting professor in the School of Business at Hunan University of Technology. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Nanjing University of Science and Technology. His research activities include quality management and applied statistics.