Evaluation of hot rolling parameters in the metal yield indicator for the production of seamless steel tubes

Abstract

In order to become or remain competitive in the face of the current competition, companies have used statistical techniques, such as the factorial experiment, that allow us to evaluate productive processes in order to improve them, thus reducing the possibility of failure. The purpose of this paper is to present an application of the statistical technique, Full Factorial Experiment 2^K, in a process of production of seamless steel tubes, with the objective of studying the specificities of the main metal yield indicator, called VZ (Verbrauch Zieff), which describes the income from the use of inputs on the production of pipes. Four factors were defined for the analysis: steel type, gauge, lamination wall and heat treatment. For the accomplishment of the present study, the adopted methodology is the research of empirical and descriptive nature, through a combined, qualitative and quantitative approach. The performance of the factorial experiment using the chosen factors resulted in a view previously unknown by the company of how the factors and their interactions influence the indicator studied, the type factors of steel and gauge being statistically significant, generating greater assertiveness in the planning of raw material and thus reducing the general costs of the products.