Taguchi tackles diminishing manufacturing sources - a novel approach to using Taguchi design of experiments in recapturing a critical production capability [military parts]

In view of the increasing problem with diminishing manufacturing sources for critical military parts, it has become necessary to devise means to recapture the original build processes. The Air Force has utilized a non-traditional Taguchi design of experiments process to reestablish the production capability for a precision gyro accelerometer. This paper is intended to summarize the methods and processes used and identify ways to utilize them to re-capture other production processes that may have been lost due to reduction in industrial base or critical skills.