Track: Quality

Abstract

Oil and gas industries rely on sophisticated downhole tools used during drilling to optimize well production levels and maintain continuous flow from reservoirs. To be profitable, manufacturers must meet downhole product design specifications, ensuring production levels are maintained without downtime. Manufacturers receive millions of dollars annually from the oil and gas producers who expect equipment within tolerances to meet production schedules. A high occurrence of dimensional deviations in computerized numerical control (CNC) machining products triggers unwanted expenses on resources. Dimensional nonconformities adversely impact delivery of products to end users due to delays needed for rework or replacement. This research contributes to manufacturing companies by applying Deming’s Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) theoretical framework, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), root cause analysis (RCA), and Pareto analysis to eliminate nonconformities. Factors impacting deviations during CNC machining processes are investigated and are found to reduce nonconformities, improve cost savings, and increase customer satisfaction for competitive market advantages.