Quality Control (QC) careers are on the rise. Advancements in manufacturing technology are pushing the limits of design capabilities and in turn, are driving the need for better inspection methods. First Article Inspections (FAI) are some of the most common forms of quality control. An FAI ensures an entire production process can create products and assemblies that meet the company/consumer requirements. Let's face it, if a company churns out a batch of bad products due to inadequate, or worse, no QC, then not only will they lose customers, but they will be hemorrhaging money.
So, How can we prevent this ?
Whether you're manufacturing your 5 millionth widget or your very first, your QC system is only as good as its operators and those operators are only as good as their tools. But in order to find the correcr tool for the job, consider these first :
Complexity of parts
The evolution of designs inevitably leads to increased compecity. As a result, in order to keep up with our competition, there is also a growing complexity in the parts we use. The questions you need to be asking yourself are ; are my parts simple or complex ? Will i be changing the designs to be more complex down the road ? Do i have the right tools to inspect them now ? Will i have the right tools to inspect them in the future ?
Cost
The cost of quality refers to the expenses associated with a rejected part, which is often described using the 1:10:100 rule.
This rule suggests that fixing a problem in production will cost 10 times more than if the problem was caught in the development stage. If the problem is only identified when the part is rejected, the cost can be as much as 100 times higher.
In evaluatring the cost of quality, it's important to consider the expenses for inspecting each part as well as the costs associated with part rejection during devlopement, production, and returns from the customer.
Market trends
Consider the impact of market trends on your operations. For instance, are the inspection tools you currently use cutting-edge or outdated ? This matters becouse using obsolete tools ccould leave your company unsupported when issues arise.
Furthermore, your customers are likely influenced by market trends. If they hear that your competition is using more efficient technology, they may be inclined to switch distributors.
Functionality
As previously mentioned, an operator is only as good as his tools. There are many inspection tools available, each with its own pros and cons. However, selecting the right tool can be a bit overwhelming. To avoid getting too deep into details, it's important to focus on a fexw key criteria :
- Ease-of-Use : Does the tool you currently use require a higher level of education ? for example, if you were to hire an operator would you be looking for someone with extensive use of the device or would it be easy to train them internally ?
- Versatility : Can the device you currently use be operated in different environments ? What if you need to inspect a part on the line or in the field ?
- Human error : There will always exist some from of uncertainty created by the tool, but certain inspection tools can create higher amounts of error due to operator error. For example, tools that require contact with a part such as calipers or CMM may result in significant error due to factors such as sluppage when extracting, physical pressure applied, flecibility of the part, targeting the wrong area, and making incorrect assumptions.
- Accuracy : For most companies, accuracy is the most important feature of an inspection tool. Opting for a device that offers good accuracy ensures reliable measurements and usable data. The objective is often to achieve a perfect design fit, without the need for iterations. Therefore, having accurate measurements on the first draft saves time and money.
- Consider the cost of accuracy and repeatability. Many companies aim for higher accuracy, typically 1:5 or 1:10, to account for low repeatability and user error. However, high accuracy comes with a cost. It's important to assess whether a high level of accuracy is necessary. Opting for a device with a higher repeatability factor may provide better value for the money.
- Speed : Most would agree that the less time spent on a task the better, and this statement holds true for inspection as well. Faster turnaround times mean quicker problem identification which in turn means less money lost throughout the process, especially if caught in development or first-run production.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT 3D SCANNER FOR INSPECTIONµ
