In aerospace, lightweighting is crucial for fuel efficiency, range, and emissions. Material analysis and technology advancements offer weight reduction without sacrificing performance or safety.

The aerospace industry relies on advanced nondestructive testing (NDT) to ensure safety and reliability. Automated technologies, such as phased arrays and 3D scanning, enhance defect detection in aircraft structures, reducing human error. This overview emphasizes the importance of these advancements.

Calculating the true cost of quality becomes faster and simpler with an ERP system that does it for you. This requires a system that includes four essential capabilities.

Even with accessible technology developed to support their growth, the sad truth is that only a few manufacturers have fully explored the power of automation. The majority are still figuring out the best way to get started.

Digital twin solutions are emerging throughout smart factories everywhere. Virtual replicas of factory floors provide real-time information about processes, system health, performance and more. But why not apply digital twin methodology in other manufacturing stages, such as quality control?

Universal testers are essential to quality in many industries because they help engineers understand the performance of materials, components, and products under various loading conditions.

Materials testing is critical for the development and quality assurance of all products in the market, with some industries such as biomedical, aerospace, and automotive companies experiencing high volumes of testing throughput in addition to strict quality standards.

An organization should be at least at level 3, Defined Systems Approach, of the Management System Maturity Model to reap the rewards of a culture of excellence.

We discuss the basics of calibration, its importance, the different methods used for calibration, and the latest developments.

Today, most surfboards are made with a CNC machine. 3D metrology laser trackers can assist with critical quality control safeguards to ensure the CNC machine is doing its job properly.

As manufacturing and quality control becomes increasingly digital, auditing is increasingly enmeshed with technology and data analytics.

Materials testing ensures quality by subjecting materials and products to controlled conditions to evaluate properties and behavior under stress. Learn how mechanical, physical, and chemical properties are evaluated to determine suitability for different applications.

This article explores the transformative impact of incorporating rotary stages into coordinate measuring systems, enhancing their capabilities and the efficiency of the measurement process.

Don't cut corners on color-matching tools. Professional equipment has advantages that imitations can't match. Learn more in this article.

Gage accuracy depends on product info. Thread form plating changes pitch diameter. Compensate for buildup to make correct pre-plate allowances. 60° UN threads change pitch diameter by 4x plating thickness.

Ensuring high quality in medical device manufacturing requires operational excellence, which optimizes efficiency and enhances product quality and compliance. Let’s explore some of the key elements and best practices.

As robots gain prevalence in manufacturing, emphasizing their safe use is vital. This includes understanding safety features, challenges, and best practices across all robot types, such as industrial, collaborative (cobots), autonomous mobile (AMRs), and humanoid robots, to navigate their complexities effectively.

Quality control in manufacturing and engineering relies heavily on compression force testing to determine material strength, durability, and stability. This article highlights the key uses and equipment needed for such testing.

How is the ISO involved with Greenhouse Gasses (GHG)? Over the past 20 years or so, ISO has released a number of standards around GHG.

Industry 4.0, or Technology 4.0, signifies the shift towards automation, data exchange, and advanced technologies like AI and IoT in manufacturing and beyond. Its value lies in aligning with organizational goals and strategic plans and enhancing employee efficiency, offering a comprehensive approach to modernizing operations across the board.

Daniel Zrymiak highlights key threats to quality culture from his experience. Organizations must continuously check for these threats in operations and discussions, ready to respond appropriately.

Listen to this podcast featuring Harshala Patil, a Senior Quality and Reliability Engineer. In it, she discusses her journey into quality, the significance of quality across various industries, and what attracted her to the manufacturing sector.

In today's competitive industrial landscape, adhering to quality management certification and audit standards is vital for consistency and excellence, especially in sectors like aviation and defense. These standards drive improvement and build customer trust. Understanding the audit process is crucial, as preparation varies by audit type, enabling organizations to effectively meet auditors' expectations.

The NextGen Global Advocacy Committee addresses the needs of young professionals under 40 or with less than four years of experience through a framework of understanding, engaging, and preparing for leadership. Recognizing that Millennials and Gen Z value inclusivity, networking, and technology integration is crucial for organizations like ASQ to meet these evolving needs and maintain a competitive edge.

Recent quality issues with Boeing aircraft reveal critical flaws in ISO certification processes, despite adherence to standards like AS 9100. Strengthening these certifications is essential for maintaining credibility and ensuring that they truly reflect an organization’s commitment to quality and safety in aerospace products.

Reed Switch Developments Corp. (RSD), a woman-owned manufacturer in Racine, WI, specializes in magnetic reed switches and sensors. Recognized as last year’s Quality Plant of the Year, RSD has achieved a 25% increase in sales year-to-date, leveraging in-house technical expertise and automation to manage growth amid rising costs and economic uncertainty.

This article considers how quality professionals and practitioners can more effectively prepare for their certification exams which are proctored or supervised as they complete a selection of responses from multiple-choice questions.

I have provided updates of the progress and development of ISO 10012 over the past three years. I am happy to say that after three years and numerous meetings the Draft International Standard (DIS) ISO10012 Quality management – Requirements for measurement management system has been released for review, approval, and comments. 

This series will discuss the patent process from concept to commercialization.

This series will discuss the patent process from concept to commercialization.
 

You started with a napkin drawing, revise it. Analyze component geometry and purpose. Eliminate parts where you can.

Personal resources may often dictate pace, but they should never govern your commitment.

Process mapping is a method to visualize and understand manufacturing processes, similar to a flowchart. It helps identify inefficiencies and delays in the workflow. For example, it can pinpoint the source of delays in an assembly line.

Manufacturers are prioritizing low-code AI tools to simplify application development, enabling non-experts to create and customize AI workflows.

Advancements in AI and machine learning offer hope to revolutionize industrial automation and tackle modern manufacturing challenges.

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—Škoda Auto has opened new 22 million euro ($24 million) Simulation Center at its assembly plant here. 

Monte Carlo simulation helps companies understand process variability and make informed decisions. It's beneficial for quality control in manufacturing.

In-process verification uses high-tech tools like 3D scanners and laser trackers on the factory floor to monitor products as they're made, allowing instant analysis and immediate problem-solving.

Front-office operations offer strategic opportunities for continuous improvement. Automating tasks can maximize effectiveness, free up senior employees, and lead to significant improvements in productivity and profitability.

In today's tech-driven world, companies use software to collect data, but the analysis can be flawed. Charts with only specification limits, arbitrarily chosen warning and action limits, and misused Process Behavior Charts contribute to misinterpretation.

The hype around "big data" has mainly aimed at niche market sales without delivering expected benefits. Similarly, the business world's obsession with Lean Six Sigma has shown minimal returns on investment. In contrast, over the last 25 years, I've leveraged small Excel files to significantly cut costs and increase profits, often by millions of dollars, through a reliable sequence I discovered.

Regulatory bodies like the FDA and MHRA are adapting guidelines to accommodate the evolving AI landscape, stressing the importance of innovative compliance approaches alongside traditional software regulations, including audit trails, electronic records, and signatures.

Calibration is essential for maintaining quality and safety in industries like pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and chemicals. The future looks to digital certificates and AI technology to make calibration processes faster and more efficient. This article discusses how AI is set to transform calibration.

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.

We are going to be dissecting six data integrity issues that require resolution prior to taking any further steps into the overall quality control process.

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.

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).