The automotive industry is innovating to produce safer and more efficient vehicles. Quality standards are vital, as small defects can lead to serious safety issues. Digital twins and augmented reality (AR) are transforming quality management. This article explores their impact and associated challenges.

This article shows how to make leadership aware of all costs and not just the tangible ones. It helps quality professionals to quantify the Total Cost of Quality and derive a compelling business case from that quantification.

Statistical process control (SPC) charts are crucial for process stability, especially with improved data collection. Introduced by Walter Shewhart in the 1920s, SPC uses random samples to estimate statistics and assess variation. With better data availability, techniques like the Rbar method, which estimates standard deviation using subgroup ranges, need reevaluation.

Today’s manufacturing environment demands greater product variety, shorter lead times, and higher customer expectations. To meet these challenges, manufacturers need agile and efficient intralogistics solutions, specifically scalable, modular systems that adapt to production changes and optimize resources while ensuring high quality.

In March 2023, after a GPT model passed a biology exam, Bill Gates noted on his blog that AI could save lives and address climate change. If AI can tackle such significant challenges, it can also help with issues faced by manufacturers, metrologists, and quality control professionals. This article will examine the challenges metrologists encounter and highlight potential AI-driven solutions in the metrology value chain.

As electric vehicles (EVs) reshape the automotive industry, manufacturers are pressured to enhance processes and achieve first-time quality. The demand for sustainable transportation requires a rethink of production strategies, with a focus on establishing a one-piece flow—ensuring each unit moves through the line without interruptions. This efficiency is vital for meeting consumer expectations and setting industry benchmarks.

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions is presenting a hero's journey at the 2024 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) booth #134302 in the East Hall, Level 3.

LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH has taken a decisive step towards more efficient production processes by acquiring a new robot.

Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $321.7 million in July 2024.

With great sadness, The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) shared the passing of founding member and first president, John William Locke, at the age of 91.

REGO-FIX, a Swiss toolholding company and inventor of the standard-setting ER collet, has partnered with tool measuring and management solution company Omega TMM for the creation of ORION powered by REGO-FIX – a tool measuring machine using REGO-FIX’s powRgrip® toolholding system with Omega TMM’s presetting technology.

ABB Robotics announced its sponsorship of MassRobotics, a leading innovation hub and startup accelerator for robotics in the United States.

MSI Viking announced the expansion of its long-standing partnership with Mahr Inc.

Shipments of cutting tools, measured by the Cutting Tool Market Report compiled in a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI), totaled $191.8 million in July 2024.

Dorsey Metrology International and MPI, Poughkeepsie-based manufacturing companies, are partnering with Dutchess BOCES to host students for Manufacturing Day (MFG Day).

Global challenges and industrial competitiveness are having an impact on the training and continuous education of skilled workers and students.

MA micro automation will be under operation of JR Automation.
The acquisition expands JR Automation's reach into global automation markets in medical, advanced battery and other fields.

Nominations Opened October 1, 2024.

Today, Friday, October 4, is National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day).

Three Missouri higher education institutions are working together to modernize the state’s manufacturing industry and develop its workforce, with $9.1 million in Missouri’s fiscal year 2025 budget being awarded to support their efforts.

Students at Washburn Rural High School (WRHS) will benefit from a new state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance career and technical education.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that five organizations will receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s only presidential award for performance excellence.

Breaking news today after the month-long strike of the Boeing Factory workers is that Boeing will be laying off 10% of their workforce soon in an effort to conserve cash.

Shipments of cutting tools, measured by the Cutting Tool Market Report compiled in a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI), totaled $209.3 million in August 2024.

Zygo, a business unit of AMETEK, Inc., announced that two of its distinguished team members, Dr. Peter de Groot and Dr. Vivek G. Badami, have been recognized by the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) for their significant contributions to the field of precision engineering.

Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $360.8 million in August 2024.

Sandvik Coromant recently participated in the annual awards ceremony at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).

The 12th Annual Assembly Show wrapped up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, with the announcement of the New Products Award winners.

43 schools receive sustainability awards, 16 schools for first time.

INFORM has hired two senior managers to help the company with their goals.

Ametek, Inc. announced the acquisition of Virtek Vision International, a leading provider of advanced laser-based projection and inspection systems.

Mastercam announced the appointment of Oscar Elizaga as vice president of global sales and services.

Partnership enhances product offerings to aerospace, automotive, defense, and manufacturing industries in the Midwest.

3D measurement tools offer incredibly precise and accurate measurements. However, using them correctly requires specialized knowledge, and integrating them into current processes can be quite complex.

This article discusses the connection between surface finish and factors like friction, wear, and fatigue life. It explores how precise surface finish measurements improve product reliability and analyzes the evolving measurement technologies.

Manufacturers are facing stricter regulations and quality standards. Portable CMM arms help maintain exceptional quality control as they navigate these requirements.

Metrology is the science of inspection. It includes various measurement tools such as calipers, gauges, micrometers, and vision systems, which are often used for quality control in nondestructive testing (NDT).

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson advocated for weights and measures in the US, and a recent Saturday Night Live episode highlighted the confusion around this topic. This industry impacts everyone today.

The manufacturing industry relies on precision for safety and performance. Shaft measurement instruments are crucial for ensuring the functionality of mechanical systems.

In the 20th century, internal combustion engines drove progress, but now automotive manufacturers are rapidly transitioning to EV production, requiring new metrology approaches.

Michelle Banger, Managing Editor of Quality, talks with Matt Noonan. He's the Quality Manager of Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems, Inc.

Equipment failure disrupts routine calibrations, making it hard to verify specifications. Consider the impact on products since the last calibration and document assumptions about equipment tolerance.

Automation requires precise data and careful attention to uncertainty, especially in longer processes with less human involvement, according to Chris Gordon from Optronic Laboratories.

3D optical profiling, developed in the early 1990s, is crucial for high-resolution measurement of optics, semiconductors, medical devices, and precision machining. Recent developments have expanded its capabilities, allowing high-resolution surface texture measurements over many square millimeters in minutes.

Backlit video metrology systems offer high-speed and precise inspection capabilities by analyzing digital part shadow images to determine feature position and size. Advancements in computing power and algorithms enhance precision, speed, and feature detection, while integration with part positioning systems allows for composite part images, rotating part profile examination, and rapid part sorting.

In manufacturing, microscopes and magnified viewing systems are crucial for inspecting products. Digital microscopes offer enhanced capabilities and AI-assisted inspections, revolutionizing the way manufacturers view and interact with macro and microscopic details.

Today, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations are a significant sub-industry within manufacturing, valued at $656 billion and projected to exceed $800 billion by 2032. MRO involves maintaining machinery, equipment, and systems in optimal condition through repairs and overhauls to extend their operational life.

Cable tension must be maintained precisely across various industries, and cable tensiometers are crucial for this. However, calibration of these instruments often faces issues due to communication between calibration labs and end users, leading to doubts about equipment functionality.

Justin Novak talks about what’s next for the society, the future (and past) of electric vehicles, and how to do well at your next CMSC 5K.