Black & Decker

Black & Decker

Print

Black & Decker produces saw blades a cut above thanks to WinSPC


Background

Black & Decker [NYSE: BDK] is the worlds #1 producer of power tools and accessories with annual sales of $4.56 billion. The Black & Decker Tampa plant manufactures saw blades and accessories for the global market. The Tampa plant has gained significant benefits using WinSPC.

“The SPC system fits well into our Six Sigma initiatives and goals. WinSPC is intuitive and easy to follow. Data can be extracted from the WinSPC database very quickly without long report building.”

Simon Barrett
Quality Engineer
Black & Decker, Tampa


Challenge

In order to maintain their lead against growing international competitors, Black & Decker Tampa was searching for ways to improve productivity and product yield in the process of manufacturing jig, reciprocal and hole saw blades. It was also imperative that any solution must support their Six Sigma initiatives.
Two stages of the manufacturing process were creating the highest RPM defect metrics:

  • The setting of the teeth on the blades
  • Reciprocal blade coating process

Implementation

Black & Decker Tampa chose WinSPC for the following reasons:

  • WinSPC is easy to use and easy to administer
  • WinSPC works with legacy systems and allows them to correlate data for a wider picture of their plant’s performance
  • WinSPC can help them meet Six Sigma standards and goals
  • WinSPC will automatically alert the operator and plant manager when the process gets out of control

Results
WinSPC works with Black & Decker’s existing systems to collect, monitor and analyze producing reports for maximum output. As a result, they were able to control the saw tooth setting as well as the curing and coating processes to significantly increase yield and reduce scrap and reworking.

Benefits
Black & Decker is maintaining a competitive stance by increasing yields and reducing scrap. Black & Decker specifically cited the following benefits achieved with WinSPC:

  • Reduced RPM defect metrics and rework by 20% to date
  • Optimized process conditions achieving higher yields
  • Attained ROI in six months
  • Presented by the Tampa plant to all of Black & Decker as a “Best Practice”

>>Next: ConAgra pudding hits sweet spot thanks to WinSPC
 
Visit us at Booth #727 for a demonstration of our latest WinSPC release.
 
eNewsletter
DataNat|eNews
All the latest industry news right to your inbox
privacy