Ti-based alloys are an important class of materials suitable especially for medical applications, but they are also used in the industrial sector. Due to their low tribological properties it is necessary to find optimal technologies and alloying elements in order to develop new alloys with improved properties. In this paper, a study on the influence of sintering treatments on the final properties of a titanium alloy is presented. The alloy of interest was obtained using the powders in following weight ratio: 80% wt Ti, 8% wt Mn, 3% wt Sn, 6% wt Aluminix123, 2% wt Zr and 1% wt graphite. Two sintering methods were used, namely two-step sintering (TSS) and multiple-step sintering (MSS), as alternatives to conventional sintering which uses a single sintering dwell time. Evolution of sample morphology, composition and crystalline structure with sintering method was evidenced. The lower values for the friction coefficient and for the wear rate was attained in the case of the sample obtained by TSS.

The analysis of failure modes and effects (FMEA) is a method of analyzing the potential failure of a product or process and developing an action plan aimed at their prevention and increased quality of products, processes, and job production environments. As a method of critical analysis, FMEA has very clear objectives: determination of the weaknesses of a technical system; initiating causes of failure-seeking components; analysis of the environmental impacts, safety of operation, the product value; provision of corrective actions to remove the causes of the occurrence of defects; provision of a plan to improve product quality and maintenance; determining the needs of technology and modernization of production; increasing the level of communication between departments of working people at hierarchical levels. FMEA should be used before taking the product. Subsequently, there is no point, only because the customer demands it, to achieve FMEA. Therefore, FMEA must be within organizational conduct. This chapter describes the FMEA method and presents studies about the improvement of the quality process for some products from industrial engineering by using FMEA, such as: axis for packaging, assembly “stator Housing,” composite parts used in the railway field. The potential causes of the defects were studied, and improvement measures were proposed.

Lean Manufacturing is an integrated socio-technical system, whose main objective is to eliminate waste. One of the basic techniques of Lean Manufacturing is the 6S technique which helps to improve productivity. The 6S technique is not only the basis for all improvements, but also it supports the positive motivation of employees and ensures a pleasant working environment and fewer quality problems. Last but not the least, it contributes greatly to the company image. In this paper, aspects about the 6S technique implementation on a manufacturing company of upholstered furniture are presented, the process being implemented from 2020. The progress of the 6S technique indicators (Safety, Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain) were monitored and corrective measures were applied for the occurred problems. The implementation of the 6S technique was successful in both production and office areas and great improvements were noticed, as following: increase of workers and machines safety, stocks level reducing, quality improving, mistakes prevention by visual management, over-processing and waste elimination. One of the major benefits of the applying the 6S technique in the company is considered the employees morale increase because anyone works more efficiently in an orderly and clean workplace.

The paper presents the analysis of two compaction methods for obtaining W/Cu Functional Graded Materials (FGMs) consisting of three layers with the following compositions (% weight): first layer 80 W/20 Cu, second layer 75 W/25 Cu, and third layer 65 W/35 Cu. Each layer composition was obtained using powders obtained through mechanical milling. The two compaction methods were Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and Conventional Sintering (CS). The samples obtained after the SPS and CS were investigated from morphological (scanning electron microscopy-SEM) and compositional (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy-EDX) points of views. Additionally, the porosities and the densities of each layer in both cases were studied. It was found that the densities of the sample’s layers obtained through SPS are superior to those obtained through CS. The research emphasizes that, from a morphological point of view, the SPS process is recommended for W/Cu-FGMs, having raw materials as fine-graded powders against the CS process.

Experiments were made for the internal turning of Teflon at high feeds, collecting the resulting chips. There were studied the chips and the machined surfaces using a magnifying glass and a microscope. The shapes and dimensions of these chips were analyzed, explaining their correlation with the feed and with the deformation of the chips sections. The cutting process was evaluated by correlating the shapes of the chips with the plastic deformation phenomena occurred in the cutting area. The sections of the chips were measured and their deformability was determined using the cutting relationships. From the analysis of the shapes of the chips, conclusions can be drawn regarding the deformation of the part material in the cutting area, meaning an appreciation of the machinability of the material. All these considerations, as well as the final table regarding the deformation of the chip during processing, show how Teflon behaves during internal turning with high feeds. The measurements carried out during this research showed that significant plastic deformations occur in the cutting area at the internal turning with high feeds of this type of non-metallic material.