Suppose that the design specifications for a hydraulic cylinder are 10.00 ± 0.10 centimeters and that the Taguchi loss function is estimated to be L(x) = 1,400 (x - T)². Use the Excel template Taguchi to answer the following questions:

a. Determine the estimated loss for a production order if the quality characteristic under study takes on a value of 10.04 and 100 parts are produced.

b. Assume the production process is recalibrated weekly and a new sample of cylinders after recalibration reveals an x-bar of 9.789. What action, if any, is need in this situation? Explain.