Tab. 1
Comparative summary of structured problem-solving tools
| CONCEPT | ORIGIN | AIM | FOCUS | METHODOLOGY AND TOOLS | CRITICISMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Sigma | Motorola Inc. (1987) | Improve process capability | Reduce process variation by controlling inputs | Methodology: DMAIC Tools: Statistical techniques | Skilled workers required to implement, resource-demanding and long-term |
| TRIZ | Russia (the 1940s) | To develop inventive solutions to complex problems | To understand contradictions and resolve them | Methodology: Tools: Contradiction Matrix, ARIX | Difficult to acquire, training, resource-demanding |
| Total Quality Management (TQM) | Japan (the 1990s) | Improve the quality and consistency of processes | Customer satisfaction | Methodology: Plan Do Study Act Tools: Statistical techniques | Vague and inconsistent conceptualisation, excessive resource consumption, unsatisfactory results |
Tab. 2
Case summary for the application of the 8D methodology
| AUTHORS | NAME OF AN ORGANISATION | BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING THE 8D METHODOLOGY |
|---|---|---|
| Behrens, B.-A., Wilde, I. and Hoffmann, M., 2007; Rambaud 2006 | Ford & Suppliers | The 8D methodology started with the Powertrain Organisation of the Ford Group. With benefits seen from the team-oriented problem solving (TOPS), it was rolled out business-wide. Soon entire Ford supply chain, including suppliers, were using the 8D framework |
| Whitfield, R. C. and Kwok, K.-M., 1996 | Hongkong based Electronics company | Improving the quality of the Integrated assembly line using Ford's 8D methodology. Highlights the benefits of highly focused approach with simple analytical tools of 8D in achieving considerable benefits in a short time |
| Saidin, W.A.N.W., Ibrahim, A.M., Azir, M Ngah, H., Noor N.M. and M.H Norhidayah., 2014 | Automotive Company (Trim Line) | Significant reduction in defect rate of the highest failure on Trim area resulting in financial gains. 8D offers an essential solution from identifying the root cause until the implementation of preventive action. Quick turnaround time and easy to implement the methodology |

Fig. 1
Proportions control chart showing the daily reject trend

Fig. 2
Scoping diagram

Fig. 3
Capability report for leak Rate Measuring Equipment
Tab. 3
Component search analysis results from Stages 1 and 2
| TEST DESCRIPTION | BEST | WORST | HIGH LOWER DECISION LIMIT | HIGH UPPER DECISION LIMIT | LOW LOWER DECISION LIMIT | LOW UPPER DECISION LIMIT | ANALYSIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | 0.21 | 1.88 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | |
| First Rebuild | 0.25 | 1.85 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | |
| Second Rebuild | 0.2 | 1.9 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | |
| Stage 2: Replace | |||||||
| Cast Body | 0.2 | 1.85 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Not important |
| Housing | 0.6 | 1.72 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Important, so is something else |
| Cartridge | 1.65 | 0.4 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Important, so is something else |
| Brass Nut | 0.19 | 1.86 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Not important |
| Cartridge Top Seal | 0.2 | 1.89 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Not important |
| Cartridge Bottom Seal | 0.22 | 1.9 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Not important |
| Housing Face Seals | 0.25 | 1.88 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | Not important |
Tab. 4
Component Search Analysis results from Stage 3
| TEST DESCRIPTION | BEST | WORST | HIGH LOWER DECISION LIMIT | HIGH UPPER DECISION LIMIT | LOW LOWER DECISION LIMIT | LOW UPPER DECISION LIMIT | ANALYSIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 3: Replace | |||||||
| Housing& Cartridge | 1.88 | 0.22 | 0.1335 | 0.2865 | 1.8035 | 1.9565 | 2 important factors explain the variation |

Fig. 4
Main effect and interaction plots for housing and cartridge
Tab. 5
Paired comparison (sorted results) for key parameters of the housing
| HOUSING BOTTOM DIAMETER (MM) | HOUSING BOTTOM ROUNDNESS (MM) | HOUSING BOTTOM CONCENTRICITY (MM) | HOUSING TOP DIAMETER (MM) | HOUSING TOP ROUNDNESS (MM) | HOUSING TOP CONCENTRICITY (MM) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bad | 29.665 | Good | 0.077 | Bad | 0.049 | Good | 32.432 | Good | 0.142 | Good | 0.025 |
| Good | 29.667 | Good | 0.078 | Good | 0.13 | Good | 32.435 | Good | 0.142 | Good | 0.026 |
| Good | 29.667 | Bad | 0.079 | Bad | 0.136 | Bad | 32.44 | Bad | 0.145 | Bad | 0.027 |
| Bad | 29.668 | Bad | 0.082 | Good | 0.161 | Bad | 32.44 | Bad | 0.146 | Bad | 0.027 |
| Good | 29.669 | Good | 0.084 | Bad | 0.162 | Good | 32.44 | Bad | 0.148 | Bad | 0.027 |
| Good | 29.67 | Good | 0.088 | Bad | 0.163 | Good | 32.442 | Good | 0.142 | Good | 0.028 |
| Good | 29.67 | Good | 0.088 | Bad | 0.163 | Bad | 32.442 | Bad | 0.145 | Good | 0.028 |
| Bad | 29.67 | Bad | 0.089 | Good | 0.163 | Bad | 32.442 | Good | 0.145 | Bad | 0.029 |
| Bad | 29.67 | Bad | 0.092 | Bad | 0.164 | Bad | 32.442 | Good | 0.153 | Good | 0.029 |
| Good | 29.671 | Good | 0.093 | Bad | 0.164 | Good | 32.442 | Good | 0.154 | Good | 0.03 |
| Bad | 29.671 | Bad | 0.093 | Good | 0.167 | Good | 32.443 | Good | 0.181 | Bad | 0.03 |
| Bad | 29.671 | Bad | 0.095 | Good | 0.168 | Good | 32.443 | Good | 0.187 | Good | 0.031 |
| Bad | 29.671 | Good | 0.098 | Good | 0.172 | Bad | 32.444 | Bad | 0.19 | Bad | 0.032 |
| Bad | 29.672 | Good | 0.104 | Bad | 0.173 | Bad | 32.445 | Bad | 0.198 | Bad | 0.033 |
| Good | 29.674 | Bad | 0.111 | Good | 0.175 | Bad | 32.453 | Bad | 0.2 | Good | 0.049 |
| Good | 29.674 | Bad | 0.124 | Good | 0.176 | Good | 32.454 | Bad | 0.201 | Bad | 0.065 |
| Top EC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Bottom EC | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |||||
| Total EC % | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | |||||
| Confidence | None | None | None | None | 90% | None | |||||
Tab. 6
Paired comparison (sorted results) for key parameters of the cartridge
| CARTRIDGE BOTTOM DIAMETER (MM) | CARTRIDGE BOTTOM ROUNDNESS (MM) | CARTRIDGE TOP DIAMETER (MM) | CARTRIDGE TOP ROUNDNESS (MM) | CARTRIDGE TOP SPLIT-LINES (MM) | CARTRIDGE BOTTOM SPLIT-LINES (MM) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 26.342 | Bad | 0.053 | Good | 28.309 | Good | 0.097 | Good | 0 | Good | 0.01 |
| Good | 26.349 | Good | 0.057 | Good | 28.31 | Good | 0.102 | Good | 0 | Good | 0.01 |
| Bad | 26.351 | Bad | 0.059 | Good | 28.311 | Good | 0.106 | Good | 0.01 | Good | 0.01 |
| Bad | 26.357 | Good | 0.06 | Bad | 28.315 | Bad | 0.108 | Bad | 0.015 | Bad | 0.015 |
| Bad | 26.358 | Bad | 0.061 | Good | 28.315 | Bad | 0.109 | Bad | 0.018 | Bad | 0.018 |
| Good | 26.364 | Good | 0.063 | Good | 28.315 | Good | 0.109 | Good | 0.019 | Good | 0.018 |
| Bad | 26.366 | Good | 0.065 | Bad | 28.316 | Bad | 0.109 | Bad | 0.021 | Bad | 0.018 |
| Good | 26.369 | Good | 0.073 | Bad | 28.317 | Good | 0.111 | Good | 0.021 | Good | 0.019 |
| Good | 26.371 | Good | 0.073 | Bad | 28.319 | Good | 0.112 | Good | 0.022 | Bad | 0.019 |
| Bad | 26.372 | Bad | 0.084 | Bad | 28.32 | Good | 0.12 | Good | 0.025 | Bad | 0.02 |
| Bad | 26.373 | Bad | 0.086 | Bad | 28.32 | Bad | 0.132 | Good | 0.03 | Good | 0.02 |
| Good | 26.375 | Bad | 0.087 | Bad | 28.32 | Bad | 0.134 | Bad | 0.035 | Bad | 0.021 |
| Good | 26.378 | Bad | 0.091 | Good | 28.321 | Bad | 0.137 | Bad | 0.038 | Bad | 0.025 |
| Bad | 26.38 | Good | 0.091 | Bad | 28.322 | Bad | 0.139 | Bad | 0.041 | Good | 0.028 |
| Bad | 26.383 | Bad | 0.095 | Good | 28.337 | Good | 0.139 | Bad | 0.045 | Good | 0.028 |
| Good | 26.39 | Good | 0.115 | Good | 28.344 | Bad | 0.144 | Bad | 0.051 | Bad | 0.03 |
| Top EC | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Bottom EC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||
| Total EC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | |||||
| Confidence | None | None | None | None | >95% | None | |||||

Fig. 5
Cartridge top-sealing face profile

Fig. 6
Housing top-sealing face profile

Fig. 7
Comparison among different test conditions

Fig. 8
Impact of PCA through P Chart of shut off failures