PRODUCTS & SERVICES

76 // March 2015 // Engine Technology International.com

Traditional manufacturing technologies have begun to

taken a back seat, while new, innovative methods are carving out a niche in the industry. Embracing such innovation is a mantra at Indo-MIM, and is at the heart of the companys future endeavors.

Metal injection molding (MIM) technology has been accepted by the industry as a reliable and cost-effective production technique, and is being used in many different and demanding applications, such as fuel systems (injectors, pumps and armatures), powertrains (rocker arms and hydraulic spools), gearboxes and turbochargers (vanes, rollers, spacers, bushings and rings). As processing capabilities continue to evolve, MIM has been providing designers with the ability to meet demanding performance and cost goals. The technology is one of the most suitable for the manufacture of small, complex metal parts for automotive applications.

Value engineering is the process of systematically improving the value of a product at every stage of its life. At the development stage, value engineering is focused on reducing product cost without reducing quality. At the maturity stage, it involves replacing costly components with cheaper equivalents. Improving the value and quality of the product is key to value engineering, and is always at the forefront of MIM application.

Once a problem is designated and the boundaries are fixed, a MIM designer is able to develop innovative solutions, tailored to a customers specific application. Over the past 18 years, Indo-MIM has successfully helped its customers migrate from producing complex, shaped steel components using conventional machining and casting technologies, to implementing MIM technology. Indo-MIMs migration approach helps customers realize quality and reliability improvements while offering major reductions in product cost. To further refine its value engineering approach toward MIM product development, Indo-MIM regularly uses advanced Six Sigma and Shainin design of experiments (DOE) techniques using a strong advanced product quality planning (APQP) process to facilitate highly

robust product development. The advantages of this approach can be observed in the relatively trouble-free production ramp of many programs at Indo-MIM. Particular attention is given to process design, FMEA and poka-yoke techniques, as Indo-MIM seeks to find the optimum MIM production process for all parts under development.

MIM technology encourages a school of thought that is the opposite of conventional wisdom, enabling designers to experiment with various complex geometries and materials, all the time keeping in mind the ultimate aim of satisfying client requirements. This allows the designers to dream beyond boundaries and move away from the mundane approach of design for manufacturing (DFM).

Indo-MIM, a leading developer based in Bangalore, India, has been

driving the migration of technology from conventional casting and machining, toward MIM. The company has dramatically increased the global and domestic awareness of the benefits of MIM technology by successfully conducting on-site customer seminars to train young designers throughout the world. Indo-MIM has developed more than 4,500 components in various materials since 1996.

When customer satisfaction is high on the agenda, innovative concepts such as value engineering offer advantages to manufacturing companies looking to make it big in the industry.

Systematically adding value at every stage of a products development process ishelping industry experts maintain the rise in popularity of metal injection molding

Value engineering in MIM

The freedom afforded to designers by MIM technology makes a wider variety of product solutions possible for manufacture

Indo-MIM has been responsible for the development of over 4,500 components

FREE READER INQUIRY SERVICETo learn more about Indo-MIM, visit: www.ukipme.com/info/etm

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