PERBAIKAN KUALITAS NEPS SLIVER RAYON PADA PROSES CARDING DENGAN METODE DMAIC

High levels of neps are a critical problem in the carding process in the spinning industry because they will affect the quality of the sliver. The purpose of writing this paper is to reduce the level of neps from 6 neps/gram to 4 neps/gram according to company standards with the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) method. The implementation of the DMAIC method in the textile and clothing industry is a successful strategy to reduce defects generated along the production line. At the defined stage using the Pareto diagram found the highest type of neps defect in the daily quality check of sliver carding. Cause and effect analysis with a fishbone diagram illustrates that the critical cause is the neglect of machine cleanliness according to the applicable Standard Operational Procedures. After making improvements with the DMAIC method, the neps level decreased from 6 neps/gram to 3 neps/gram, exceeding the standards set by the company. Although the results show a significant decrease in the number of neps, there is a small variation in weekly results that may be caused by environmental factors or variations in the production process that are not fully controlled. Further research is needed to understand these factors and control them more effectively. The results of this study indicate that the DMAIC method not only helps in identifying problems but also in implementing effective solutions. This study contributes to the theoretical benefits of DMAIC in process improvement and practically in the textile industry.