Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    199

    Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    In regards to IQ, OQ, PQ...

    How do you guys execute OQ??

    Historically, we've done "High and Low" runs to establish evidence our process limits result in parts that meets defined specification.

    Generally,

    High Process: + 10 melt temp, +10 mold temp, +500 pack psi +1s cooling time
    Low Process: - 10 melt temp. - 10 mold temp, - 500 pack psi, -1s cooling time

    It's not perfect, but it's stuck here for some time.. There is certainly a lot of discussion over it.
    What other methods are there? Any ideas for improvement?

    Thought is to be thorough, but in a timely manner. (mostly timely it seems lately)

    Thanks,

    Chris

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Saint Paul, MN
    Posts
    181

    Re: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    First question is why are you doing OQs? If you are a regulated facility, then you should have a procedure that tells you exactly how to do them. If not, it’s a customer requirement and you can do whatever the customer wants to pay for.

    That said, in practice you should have done enough characterization prior to OQ that you know how the part behaves, so I would not advise pinning yourself down to fixed ranges ahead of time. Could be +/- 10 degrees for one part, +/- 20 for the next. (Although it should be at least the range of variation you will see from the heater thermocouples). If you have performed a window study and measured parts, you should have a good idea of where the process will produce good parts consistently. (Do this preliminary work thoroughly and you will not risk failing OQ and looking like a jackass).

    Unless you know other factors have a substantial impact on the parts, I would restrict the challenge to temperature profile and hold pressure, leaving everything else constant. I have done high/nominal/low runs, but I prefer to do four corners (HI/Hi, Hi/Lo, Lo/Hi, Lo/Lo), because that establishes a window with known capability.

    Just my opinion, but the best way to be both thorough and timely is to have a well-defined development procedure and good documentation (protocol/report forms).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    199

    Re: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    Thanks JayDub, good info. Current Mold Validation procedure leaves the OQ relatively open for the process designer..
    And I haven't dealt with too many picky customers on how 'thorough' the OQ run needs to be. (Mostly they just want to see we have a procedure/plan and can execute to that plan).

    Temp profile and hold pressure definitely seems achievable. -Mostly to convince our QE and new engineering manager (both have no inj. molding experience).

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    624

    Re: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    Hi Chris,
    What you mention above is good. What Jay mentions are also valid points. WHat my clients have been doing is a full DOE, find the process that makes you the parts you want WITH a robust and wide window process and then vary the process around that. I think a 10 deg melt is too small. Is the 500 psi plastic or hydraulic? I am assuming plastic which again is small. But it is a great start. I find very few companies doing this and so whatever you do is good.
    You can try to widen the windows by doing a DOE.
    Regards,
    Suhas

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    199

    Re: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    Thanks Suhas. +/- 10 melt & +/- 500 plastic pressure..

    I'll need to explore this a little bit.
    I've worked with Minitab here and there.. DOE can be a very powerful tool if done correctly!

    Do your clients execute DOE prior to OQ run? Or is the DOE run itself considered the OQ run? (this to me seems justifiable)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    624

    Re: Operational Qualification (OQ) Question

    Everyone does it in their own way. Some do it part of the OQ - which is always my choice and make the most sense. You have explore the process and that is what is OQ. When you have a chance, read through my website and you will get an idea. I do things differently than others. I have done that for 25 years and have been VERY successful and the reason I have been able to sustain my consulting. It is a paradigm shift.
    -Suhas

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •