Relationships network model of factors influencing manufacturing quality based on polychromatic sets

To provide comprehensive and effective decision support information for designers, quality influence factors in manufacturing processes such as man, machine, material, method, and environment (4M1E) were turned back to design process. Design support provided by quality influence factors was analyzed. A hierarchical model of quality influence factors and their attributes was constructed. And a relationships network among quality influence factors supporting design decisions was presented. Quality influence factors and their relationships network were expressed by using polychromatic sets which could provide a precise expression of the relationships between the unified color of a set and the single color of each element in the set. Finally, a case of gear process planning was given, a relationships network of quality influence factors in gear manufacturing process was set up. And a network model of polychromatic sets for gear profile manufacturing process was constructed.