Optimization of Carborundumʹs gas igniter furnacing process using experimental design

Experimental design and optimization methodologies are used to improve the quality of Carborundumʹs gas igniter. A process model is developed from sixteen recrystallization trays organized in a fractional factorial experiment for seven variables. The process model was optimized (using a standardized loss function) to obtain settings for process factors that hit the productʹs specification targets and minimize the variability of the electrical and physical characteristics of the igniters. This experimental work found key factor effects that were not well understood before, nor observed in previous work.