Patent ID: 6157899
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: C23C,G01N,G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of determining a range of values for at least one variable product parameter of a galvanneal-coated steel product to be manufactured, said method comprising the steps of:providing a computer-readable database which contains product data on several previously manufactured galvanneal-coated steel products, as well as powdering test result data for each of said previously manufactured galvanneal-coated steel products, said powdering test result data including information on how the previously manufactured galvanneal-coated steel products performed when subjected to a powdering test procedure, said plurality of parameters including at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters consisting of a galvanneal coating weight, iron content, gage, grade, and coating phase composition;analyzing said product data and said powdering test result data using a computer-implemented classification and regression tree analysis;generating, based on said computer-implemented classification and regression tree analysis, a binary decision tree having multiple decision result branches, each decision result branch being defined by a result of a binary decision on one of a plurality of product parameters;applying at least one desired value of a product parameter to said binary decision tree to eliminate from consideration any decision result branches which are inconsistent with said at least one desired value; anddetermining said range based upon which path through the decision result branches which were not eliminated from consideration, yields a best probability that a galvanneal-coated steel product with said at least one desired value will respond favorably to said powdering test procedure.