Performance improvement for additive manufacturing of spur gear via the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) method

Industrial firms increasingly use advanced technologies to navigate market fluctuations, bolster demand, and enhance competitiveness. Six Sigma methodology presents a pathway for these firms to overcome challenges and pioneer new business strategies. This study utilizes the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) method to minimize process variability in additive manufacturing (AM) for spur gears. The process commenced by defining customer requirements and collecting data on the gear 3D printing process. Subsequent steps involved analyzing data to identify root causes of defects, implementing improvement solutions, and establishing process controls for sustainability. The standard deviation reduced significantly by 90.55%, with the process capability index (Cp) improving by 87.15% and the process performance capability index (Cpk) by 92.98%. The application of DMAIC proves invaluable in defect reduction and ongoing performance enhancement within the 3D printing gear sector.