Case Study # 4

Component: Curved Scissor Blades

Challenge: To develop a coining process that would produce consistent dimensions throughout the length of the curved blade thus assuring blade interference for cutting efficacy.

Solution: Use of controls, including SPC, to step up and maintain coining and monitor of the coining process.

A medical instrument manufacturer needed a source for curved scissor blades. The key to success in developing the blades was based on cutting. To provide cutting efficacy of a curved scissor blade a coining process had to be developed that would produce dimensional consistency throughout the length of the blade. In order to do this tight process controls needed to be established. First, the process needed to be validated. Once the validation was completed it had to be maintained in a high volume coining process. Besides the standard controls for everything from powder metal particle size distribution to processing parameters, the coining process control held the key to success. In order to maintain the process parameters established in the validation in-process SPC was implemented. This allows for real time coining process data to monitor and make adjustments as needed thus allowing for a proactive approach to process control. Verified by customer feedback, product reliability and efficacy has been consistently maintained.

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