Summary: Managing Quality 140 Case Study Dittenhoefer's Fine China Pawel Kwaniki/Alamy Stock Photo Introduction Overall, Steve Edwards, vice president of marketing at Dittenhoefer's Fine China, is very pleased with the success of his new line of Gem-Surface china plates. Gem-Surface plates are different from regular china in that the plates have a special polymer coating that makes the highly resistant to chinning and fadins. Not only are the tas more durable they are also completely dishwasher > In order to manufacture the new plates, Dittenhoefer's has leased a special machine to apply the coating and has put in place a drying system to cure the coating on the plates. The research and development (R&D) lab has determined that in order to prevent defective plates, it is important that the machine apply the polymer coating at the proper temperature and in the proper thickness. Specifically, R&D has written up the following guidelines: Coating thickness. The optimal polymer-coating thickness is 4 microns. If the coating is > 5 microns, the plates will take too long to dry. If the coating is