Evaluating the Use of Artificial Neural Networks and Graph Complexity to Predict Automotive Assembly Quality Defects

This paper presents the use of subassembly models instead of the entire assembly model to predict assembly quality defects at an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Specifically, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to predict assembly time and market value from assembly models. These models were converted into bipartite graphs from which 29 graph complexity metrics were extracted to train 18,900 ANN prediction models. The size of the training set, order of the bipartite graph, selection of training set, and defect type were experimentally studied. With a training size of 28 parts, an interpolation focused training set selection with a second-order graph seeding ensured that 70% of all predictions were within 100% of the target value. The study shows that with an increase in training size and careful selection of training sets, assembly defects can be predicted reliably from subassemblies' complexity data.