New Research Monograph Released: Statistics and Decision Making as Applied to Printing Conformity Assessment (PICRM-2012-03)

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February 6, 2012, 9:00 am
Tags: Printing Industry Center research findings printing dataset sampling statistics conformity assessment

Third monograph in 2011-2012 research agenda is released to the public

A newly released research monograph from the Printing Industry Center at RIT uses a real-life printing dataset and simulation techniques to determine the passing probabilities of a job as a function of sampling, tolerances, and the pass/fail criterion of a job. Titled “Statistics and Decision Making as Applied to Printing Conformity Assessment” (PICRM-2012-03) the monograph is authored by Robert Chung, gravure research professor, RIT School of Print Media; Changyong Feng, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Rochester; and Ping-hsu Chen, a graduate student in the Carlson Center for Imaging Science.

The main objective of this research was to take an in-depth look at standards-related causes of nonconformance. By devising a conformity assessment prediction model based on reasoning and statistical theory, this research analyzed the factors that impact printing conformity. Since conformity assessment is a decision-making process based on random samples, the statistical theory developed in this research offers a solid foundation for predicting passing probabilities of a printing job. In addition, this research explored the use of a printing dataset and a simulation technique to study the effect of tolerances and sampling rules on the percentage of jobs passed.

Key findings include:

• As demonstrated in the conformity assessment prediction model, an increase in the number of sampling rules can significantly impact the passing probability of a job. Therefore, when standards are being developed, it is important to keep in mind that (1) variation conformity assessment requires sampling (which is random in nature), and (2) the number of normative requirements, tolerances, and sampling rules can impact the passing probabilities of a job.
   
• For printers who are seeking printing certification, it is important to note that the passing probability of a job ultimately depends on the process calibration and the effectiveness of local process control.

The full report is available for download as a PDF from http://print.rit.edu/research/show/172.

About the Printing Industry Center at RIT
The Printing Industry Center is a joint program of the RIT School of Print Media in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and RIT's E. Philip Saunders College of Business, and was established in 2001 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as one of the Sloan Industry Centers. The Center is dedicated to the study of major business environment influences in the printing industry brought on by new technologies and societal changes, creating a forum for printing companies and associations worldwide to access a neutral platform for the dissemination of knowledge, to share ideas, and to build the partnerships needed to sustain growth and profitability in a rapidly changing market. For more information, please visit http://print.rit.edu.

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Media Contact:
Ashley Walker 
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Printing Industry Center at RIT
585-475-4231
aswppr@rit.edu