E-IJPM: Vol. 44/4 - MPIF

CONSULTANTS’ CORNER
14
all the options available, both within and outside the
company. Using current technologies, throughput in
an existing furnace can be improved by up to 50%.
This helps significantly in improving all the benchmarks
cited in Step 1.
STEP 4: Personnel Training
In order to make significant productivity increases
in manufacturing PM parts, it is desirable that all
manufacturing personnel be trained in all aspects of
PM including powder characteristics, blending, compacting,
and sintering. In my opinion this is critical,
and will go a long way towards continuous improvements
in productivity, quality, and cost per unit
weight of shipped PM parts.
STEP 5: Upgrading Operating Practices
As we move through Steps 2, 3, and 4, it is also
highly desirable to upgrade current operating practices.
These include loading and unloading of parts,
process control, monitoring and controlling key
parameters, belt and muffle designs, and maintenance
policies.
STEP 6: Repeat Step 1
After Steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been substantially
accomplished, Step 1 should be repeated, hopefully
within 6 to 12 months from the start. We should see
significant improvements (from 20% to 50%) in productivity
and the seven benchmarks, depending
upon the benchmark.
STEP 7: Repeat Entire Process
Repeat Steps 2 through 6 later in order to further
continuously improve the seven benchmarks. This
will ensure long-term survival, a competitive edge,
growth, and profitability in the manufacture of PM
parts. ijpm
Readers are invited to send in questions for future issues. Submit your
questions to: Consultants’ Corner, APMI International, 105 College Road East,
Princeton, NJ 08540-6692; Fax (609) 987-8523; E-mail: dschember@mpif.org
ijpm
Volume 44, Issue 4, 2008
International Journal of Powder Metallurgy