development
Ensuring the reliability and quality of products are the main targets of Beko
At the beginning of November 2021, it became known that the project on quality and reliability of washing machines developed by the team of the Russian Beko Plant was recognized as one of the best among other projects of Arçelik Group. We met with the winners to find out the details.
Alexander Krotov
head of the production control group
“They got interested in the results of the project in Istanbul"
“Early this year, our Group conducted training on the methods of calculating and managing product reliability”, says Alexander Krotov, head of the production control group. Based on the results of the training, it was needed to implement a project on this subject.
Each factory that is a part of Arçelik Group conducted certain studies, prepared their own projects on reliability in the form of a presentation with respective conclusions.
– We implemented a project for narrow washing machines that have a vibration problem, – continued Alexander Krotov. – It was a cross-functional project, in the implementation of which we engaged the employees from different departments. Svetlana Sukacheva analyzed the database of service calls and identified the most common problems. Sergey Zhuravlev was in charge of various mechanical tests and experiments. Roman Bocharov's task was to communicate with suppliers. I was appointed as the project manager.
The vibration problem was solved in several stages. The members of our team first examined the effects of various components on it including the door seal. During the experiments it was revealed that the main factor affecting the vibration of narrow washing machines was the hardness of a rubber seal - if it exceeds the permissible value, the risk of vibration and displacement of a washing machine increases. Then we compared the seals made by different suppliers and looked at how the rubber hardness of a washing machine door seal changed over time.
– The studies were carried out for three months, – said Alexander, – during this time we saw the fundamental difference between the seals of two suppliers and this allowed us making an appropriate decision on one of them – supplies from this supplier were temporarily suspended. Now we are taking the necessary measures to improve the quality of our products.
Each factory that is a part of Arçelik Group conducted certain studies, prepared their own projects on reliability in the form of a presentation with respective conclusions.
– We implemented a project for narrow washing machines that have a vibration problem, – continued Alexander Krotov. – It was a cross-functional project, in the implementation of which we engaged the employees from different departments. Svetlana Sukacheva analyzed the database of service calls and identified the most common problems. Sergey Zhuravlev was in charge of various mechanical tests and experiments. Roman Bocharov's task was to communicate with suppliers. I was appointed as the project manager.
The vibration problem was solved in several stages. The members of our team first examined the effects of various components on it including the door seal. During the experiments it was revealed that the main factor affecting the vibration of narrow washing machines was the hardness of a rubber seal - if it exceeds the permissible value, the risk of vibration and displacement of a washing machine increases. Then we compared the seals made by different suppliers and looked at how the rubber hardness of a washing machine door seal changed over time.
– The studies were carried out for three months, – said Alexander, – during this time we saw the fundamental difference between the seals of two suppliers and this allowed us making an appropriate decision on one of them – supplies from this supplier were temporarily suspended. Now we are taking the necessary measures to improve the quality of our products.
– In our presentation of the project results, we presented the conclusions that got an interest from the colleagues of the central quality management department in Istanbul, – said Alexander Krotov, – and the top management decided to reward our project. It was very nice because when we started working on the project we did not think about prizes, awards or recognition, we just wanted to make our product better. And now, of course, I am proud of our team.
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The project objectives were reducing the level of service calls, increasing customer satisfaction with our products and improving the company's image. Beko is constantly working on the quality and reliability of its products.
Svetlana Sukacheva
head of the quality system group of the product quality department
“We do not leave a single problem without attention"
– Every month I analyze the database of service calls and repairs performed for the products of Beko LLC, – says Svetlana Sukacheva, head of the quality system group of the product quality department. – Early this year, I noticed that there were many complaints from our customers about the increased vibration of washing machines, especially with regard to Slim models (narrow compact model). It should be clarified that all washing machines are subject to slight vibrations due to dynamic loads during operation, especially during spinning, and this is normal. When the shape of a washing machine is close to a square then the probability of its displacement from the spot during vibration is minimal because the area itself provides stability. But when a washing machine is rectangular (narrow) then the probability of the influence of the causes that can lead to increased vibration including displacement is much higher. Customers are dissatisfied with the very fact of increased vibration and the service technicians try to solve the problem but even after repair it remains. Due to repeated repairs for the same problem you have to either replace a washing machine with a new one or compensate the full cost of the product.
– A lot of work has been done to determine the causes of increased vibration, – continues Svetlana Sukacheva, – many experiments have been carried out. Our colleagues from other plants of the Group have got an interest in the conclusions. As a result, our project was recognized as the best. This is probably natural because the work we have done has yielded positive results and this will significantly improve the quality of our products and will respectively increase customer satisfaction with our product and the rating of trust to Beko brand.
Sergey Zhuravlev
head of the washing machines section of the product development department
“I was glad to work in the team of professionals"
– When I found out that the project that my colleagues and I were working on became a winner, I felt joy and pride for our factory, – admits Sergey Zhuravlev, head of the washing machines section of the product development department, – after all, among all the enterprises of the Group that produce washing machines it was our plant that was highlighted. This means that our team is able to solve complex problems and issues and achieve success. I was glad to work in the team of professionals.
Sergey said that in this project, his product development department helped the quality department conduct experiments to assess the risk of washing machines' displacement during operation.
– The problem was that during the spinning process a washing machine could vibrate and move along the floor, – said Sergey. – We thought it might be related to the hardness of a door seal. To confirm or deny this assumption my colleagues and I conducted experiments in our laboratory using the seals of different hardness from different manufacturers.
The staff of the department headed by Sergey Zhuravlev conducted experiments of two types. During one of them we simulated a situation where the laundry was laid incorrectly: there was more of it on one side and less on the other, or sometimes it had completely strayed into one pile. To do this, rubber blocks of certain weight were placed inside the drum, they were fixed and the machine was started for the spin mode. The drum rotated and imbalance was created, which caused vibration of the entire dynamic group and the washing machine started to move.
For the second test, the employees used several washing machines that were spinning with varying amounts of laundry inside.
– Before spinning a washing machine performs certain rotational movements so that the laundry is distributed more evenly, – explains Sergey Zhuravlev, – then according to the algorithm adjusted it determines how well it is distributed. If the distribution is not very good then a washing machine may not reach the maximum spins. If it cannot distribute the laundry for a long time then there is high probability that it will not even go to the spin mode at all and will leave the clothes wet. During this experiment we measured the number of spin attempts and the displacement of a washing machine solving the main problem - to determine the maximum allowable hardness of a seal, at which the washing machine does not move in the conditions that are as close to reality as possible.
Sergey said that in this project, his product development department helped the quality department conduct experiments to assess the risk of washing machines' displacement during operation.
– The problem was that during the spinning process a washing machine could vibrate and move along the floor, – said Sergey. – We thought it might be related to the hardness of a door seal. To confirm or deny this assumption my colleagues and I conducted experiments in our laboratory using the seals of different hardness from different manufacturers.
The staff of the department headed by Sergey Zhuravlev conducted experiments of two types. During one of them we simulated a situation where the laundry was laid incorrectly: there was more of it on one side and less on the other, or sometimes it had completely strayed into one pile. To do this, rubber blocks of certain weight were placed inside the drum, they were fixed and the machine was started for the spin mode. The drum rotated and imbalance was created, which caused vibration of the entire dynamic group and the washing machine started to move.
For the second test, the employees used several washing machines that were spinning with varying amounts of laundry inside.
– Before spinning a washing machine performs certain rotational movements so that the laundry is distributed more evenly, – explains Sergey Zhuravlev, – then according to the algorithm adjusted it determines how well it is distributed. If the distribution is not very good then a washing machine may not reach the maximum spins. If it cannot distribute the laundry for a long time then there is high probability that it will not even go to the spin mode at all and will leave the clothes wet. During this experiment we measured the number of spin attempts and the displacement of a washing machine solving the main problem - to determine the maximum allowable hardness of a seal, at which the washing machine does not move in the conditions that are as close to reality as possible.
Roman Bocharov
quality engineer
"The goal is to improve the quality of Beko products"
– My job mainly was to interact with suppliers, – said quality engineer Roman Bocharov, – namely, to discuss new requirements in terms of the quality of seals. It was very important to constantly keep close contact with the supplier under control to complete this project within the specified timeframe. It should be understood that the work was carried out as an experiment and therefore the supplier's attention to this subject was very important.
– I started working in the company relatively recently. I came to Beko in March 2021, – Roman admitted, – and this was my first success. Starting our work on the project we set ourselves only one goal – to improve the quality of Beko products. It's nice that our reliability project has received such a high assessment and I feel proud both for myself and for the company. I am sure that the victory of our project will stimulate the creation of new projects.
Reliability is the property of an object to maintain the values of all parameters characterizing the product's ability to perform the required functions in the specified modes and conditions of use, maintenance, storage and transportation within the established limits.
We are constantly working on improving our product. For this, we monitor the database of claims and we do not disregard any issue, even if it seems to be small at first glance.
– I started working in the company relatively recently. I came to Beko in March 2021, – Roman admitted, – and this was my first success. Starting our work on the project we set ourselves only one goal – to improve the quality of Beko products. It's nice that our reliability project has received such a high assessment and I feel proud both for myself and for the company. I am sure that the victory of our project will stimulate the creation of new projects.
Reliability is the property of an object to maintain the values of all parameters characterizing the product's ability to perform the required functions in the specified modes and conditions of use, maintenance, storage and transportation within the established limits.
We are constantly working on improving our product. For this, we monitor the database of claims and we do not disregard any issue, even if it seems to be small at first glance.
© Beko 2021