Pattern Recognition Using Mahalanobis-Taguchi System on Connecting Rod through Remanufacturing Process: A Case Study

Abstract:

To categorize the different patterns of connecting rod based on the extent to which the product is remanufacturable is very challenging because of the existence of various models and wide tolerances. Sometimes it cannot be done due to the improper pattern recognition system. Mahalanobis-Taguchi System (MTS) is a diagnostic method employing Mahalanobis Distance (MD) for recognizing different patterns in multivariate data. The aim of this work is to apply T method-3, a sub-method of MTS, to the big-end diameter of connecting rod to distinguish between two distinct ranges within the remanufacturability process spectrum. Furthermore, the method also categorizes various patterns of connecting rod based on their MD from unit space with graphical illustration. The case study is performed in an automotive industry as well as in a contract remanufacturing environment in Malaysia. The outcome of this work is expected to be the enhancement of robustness in the remanufacturing system on pattern recognition applicable to the company under study. It is expected that the company will experience time and energy savings and improved work quality. The resulting systematic analysis is expected to enable fast decision-making. Finally, this study is expected to invoke among researchers a sense of seriousness in their approach towards various case studies involving the upgrading of the remanufacturing process that will bring Malaysias remanufacturing capability on par with that of other developed countries.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 845)
• Pages: 584-589
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.845.584
• Online since: December 2013
• Authors: Mohd Yazid Abu, Khairur Rijal Jamaludin, Faizir Ramlie*
• Keywords: Big-End Diameter, Connecting Rod, Mahalanobis Distance, Mahalanobis-Taguchi System, Unit Space

References

[1] Ijomah, W.L., Childe, S., McMahon, C., Remanufacturing: A Key Strategy for Sustainable Development, In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Design and Manufacture for Sustainable Development, Loughborough, UK, (2004) 99-102.

[2] Hauser, W.M., Lund, R.T., The Remanufacturing Industry: Anatomy of a Giant, Report. Boston University. (2003).

[3] U.S. Department of Commerce, On The Road: U.S. Automotive Parts Industry Annual Assessment. Office of Transportation and Machinery. (2010).

[4] Taguchi G, Chowdhury S, Wu Y., The Mahalanobis–Taguchi System, New York: McGraw-Hill. (2001).

[5] Su CT, Hsiao YH., An evaluation of the robustness of MTS for imbalanced data, IEEE Trans Knowledge Data Eng. 19 (2007) 1321–1332.

DOI: 10.1109/tkde.2007.190623

[6] Steinhilper, R., Remanufacturing: The Ultimate Form of Recycling, Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, Stuttgart, (1998).

[7] Oiko, O.T., Barquet, A.P.B., Ometto, A.R., Business Issues in Remanufacturing: Two Brazilian Cases in the Automotive Industry, Glocalized Solutions for Sustainability in Manufacturing. (2011) 470-475.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-19692-8_81

[8] Hammond, R., Amezquita, T., Bras, B., Issues in the Automotive Parts Remanufacturing Industry: A Discussion of Results from Surveys Performed among Remanufacturers, Engineering Design and Automation. 4 (1998) 27-46.

[9] Adler D.P., Kumar V., Ludewig P.A., Sutherland J.W., Comparing Energy and Other Measures of Environmental Performance in the Original Manufacturing and Remanufacturing of Engine Components, Proc. of the 2007 ASME International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference. (2007).

DOI: 10.1115/msec2007-31220

[10] Jens Warsen, Marlisa Laumer, Wolfgang Momberg, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Remanufacturing and New Manufacturing of a Manual Transmission, Glocalized Solutions for Sustainability in Manufacturing. (2011) 67-72.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-19692-8_12

[11] Liparas Dimitris, Angelis Lefteris, Feldt Robert, Applying the Mahalanobis-Taguchi Strategy for Software Defect Diagnosis, Automated Software Engineering. 19 (2012) 141-165.

DOI: 10.1007/s10515-011-0091-2

[12] Elizabeth A. Cudney, Kioumars Paryani, Kenneth M. Ragsdell, Applying the Mahalanobis-Taguchi System to Vehicle Handling, Concurrent Engineering-Research and Applications. 14 (2006) 343-354.

DOI: 10.1177/1063293x06073568

[13] Chao-Ton Su, Pa-Chun Wang, Yan-Cheng Chen , Li-Fei Chen, Data Mining Techniques for Assisting the Diagnosis of Pressure Ulcer Development in Surgical Patients, Journal of Medical Systems. 36 (2012) 2387-2399.

DOI: 10.1007/s10916-011-9706-1

[14] Masayuki Itagaki, Eri Takamiya, Kunihiro Watanabe, Takanori Nukaga, Fumio Umemura, Diagnosis of Quality of Fresh Water for Carbon Steel Corrosion by Mahalanobis Distance, Corrosion Science. 49 (2007) 3408-3420.

DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2007.03.015

[15] Yixin Chen, John Phillips, ECU Software Abnormal Behavior Detection Based on Mahalanobis-Taguchi Technique, SAE International Journal Passenger Cars-Electron Electric System. 1 (2008) 474-480.

DOI: 10.4271/2008-01-1219