Improving Yields in Manufacturing of Prescription Eyewear a Process Approach

Abstract

Prescription eyewear manufacturing previously was a fragmented industry and lenses were fabricated in small individual laboratories (labs). However, over the years eyewear businesses have been consolidated. Prescription eyewear is now sold through major retail chains. Thereby giving rise to industrial labs where manufacturing and production systems are evident as in any other manufacturing industries. Also going back, process control as an individual function was not present in the small labs. Currently with the volumes and efficiencies required, process control in production of lenses needs to become an essential part of large labs. In this research, some applications of yield improvement techniques in the manufacturing of prescription eyewear will be discussed. Presently there are some validation and acceptance testing standards that are followed in the industry at final inspection points. Nevertheless process control planning, design, and implementation as it relates to production lines has not been done before in this industry. The research conducted highlights those areas. All prescription eyewear manufacturing are custom jobs, and no two jobs are the same. Therefore, if production issues can be solved through proper process control techniques. The fabrication of prescription eyewear would function a whole lot better, since individual production issues on some jobs are to be expected and a norm in this industry.