A Process for Optimizing Sewing Conditions to Minimize Seam Pucker Using the Taguchi Method

We have developed a process for optimizing sewing conditions to minimize seam pucker using the Taguchi method. The process is applied to two different T/C fabrics with the specified experimental design using an optimum orthogonal array table. The parameters selected for optimization are sewing speed, stitch length, sewing thread tension, and presser foot pressure. The Taguchi process has the following steps: calculate the SN ratios of repeated experimental observations, find the corresponding conditions that influence sewing for a given fabric, determine the optimum values of the sewing conditions, calculate the prediction interval of minimum seam pucker grade with optimum sewing conditions, certify the Taguchi processes that apply, and finally compare the expectation losses before and after improving seam pucker grades. With the Taguchi processes, we can easily determine the optimum sewing conditions for minimizing seam pucker with simple experiments.