pp. 1211-1227
S&M3982 Technical Paper of Special Issue https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM5221 Published: March 31, 2025 Implementing Process Capability Index (Cpk) for Effective Product Quality Stabilization: The Case of a Lock Manufacturing Company [PDF] Teng-Hsiung Lin, Lan-Chien Huang, Yue-Yang Chen, Liang-Cheng Lee, and Dyi-Yih Michael Lin (Received June 29, 2024; Accepted March 18, 2025) Keywords: precision manufacturing, process capability index (Cpk), statistical process control (SPC), quality improvement, production stability
In computer numerical control (CNC) production, product specifications are entered into machine software, and sensors automatically distinguish between conforming and nonconforming products, preventing mixing and shipment issues. Modern factories often use sensor-based automated measurement instruments to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Process capability indices (e.g., Cp, Cpk, and Cpm) quantify process variability relative to specifications, with Cpk widely used owing to its focus on aligning the process mean with the specification center. In this study, we explored product quality stabilization by using Cpk to analyze sensor data in lock manufacturing, stabilizing product quality, and verifying process stability after equipment maintenance to make the material inspections more accurate. We selected key dimensions of lock products for measurement, employing an image-measuring instrument for bi-daily sampling. Analysis results indicate that Cpk effectively reflects process stability. If the Cpk value does not reach ≥1.33, CNC lathe parameters are adjusted to enhance the Cpk value, demonstrating significant process capability improvement. Additionally, we innovatively applied Cpk to evaluate process capability post-equipment maintenance, ensuring that product quality meets the required standards. In summary, we demonstrated the practicality and effectiveness of Cpk in process capability assessment and improvement.
Corresponding author: Yue-Yang Chen![]() ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Cite this article Teng-Hsiung Lin, Lan-Chien Huang, Yue-Yang Chen, Liang-Cheng Lee, and Dyi-Yih Michael Lin, Implementing Process Capability Index (Cpk) for Effective Product Quality Stabilization: The Case of a Lock Manufacturing Company, Sens. Mater., Vol. 37, No. 3, 2025, p. 1211-1227. |