The simple shaft is one of the ubiquitous items in every mechanical system. Shafts contain a number of key functional elements, such as splines, tapers, grooves, threads, cams and gears, which all have associated critical dimensions to allow these mechanical systems to perform the function for which they were designed.
Quality professionals see many costs of quality firsthand. These include our salaries and benefits, the equipment used to measure and analyze quality outcomes, and the waste generated by these processes when they fail to meet requirements.
“It may sound like an older version of the iPhone,” writes Dean Marsman in Quality, “but it’s actually a very simple and helpful system that can make the fundamentals of lean manufacturing even clearer to both business owners and employees.”
As a full time auditor for the past six years for one of the large management system registrars, I start every interview, from production personnel to the CEO, with the question: “Given all of your job responsibilities at this company, what does the word ‘quality’ mean in your work?”
The heavy trucking industry is defined by the many industry and regulatory standards it relies on to ensure safety, quality and reliability. Among the most notable is International Standards Organization (ISO) Technical Standard 16949 for quality management, which as adopted by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is known as IATF 16949.
Today’s design and manufacturing world is quickly evolving to a model-based environment, one where intelligent 3D CAD models are the authority, containing not only the information to build a part or assembled product, but also to verify the end result against the nominal 3D CAD design.
Two-dimensional and 3D X-ray technologies are among the most useful nondestructive testing methods. They enable the inspection of an object’s internal features without having to disassemble the sample or destroy the part in the process.
It has happened to all of us. We are inspired by a compelling idea that will drive gains in quality, only to have our bubble burst by peers that don’t share our enthusiasm.
When we think of November we immediately think about Thanksgiving, deer hunting season, and Black Friday shopping. These observations are well-known and carry a rich tradition.
My youngest child graduated college last May and just transitioned into his very own apartment. As I helped him move I reflected on when I first ventured out on my own many years ago.
Understanding the different hardness testing types and systems can be useful to determine an optimal solution. Hardness testing functionality has evolved and now users can dial into world-class instrumentation which more closely aligns with their applications at hand.
When people criticize negative feedback, they often misunderstand what it means to be an effective leader. We are surrounded by books and articles advising leaders to inspire.
Mold and tool makers are under pressure to reduce their throughput times and unit costs in order to stay in business. How much of a competitive edge do companies enjoy with a zero-point clamping system and a measuring machine? The CEO of WESCHU GmbH ran the numbers.
The Knapheide Manufacturing Company of Quincy, IL, is a leader in the North American utility truck body market, so when they adopt manufacturing and testing procedures, the industry takes note.
Current trends for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures in metal manufacturing plants are becoming more stringent. The need for 100% measurements for alloy verification is frequently becoming part of these procedures.
Years ago, metal fabricators and quality control personnel needed to conduct expensive, time-consuming laboratory tests to perform material verification.
Nondestructive testing (NDT) is used in engineering industries to test equipment, components, and materials without causing any damage. With a reliance on quality assurance and rating systems for tools to be used for the correct tasks, adhering to industrial safety norms is a large factor behind the NDT market.
The L.S. Starrett Co. has introduced two new digital Rockwell/ Superficial Rockwell Benchtop Hardness Testers (Nos. 3823 and 3824) with fully automated load/ unload procedures, and capable of providing highly accurate readings.
A new line of five industrial videoscopes from Titian Tool Supply, Inc., features interchangeable video probes that allow for the use of different insertion tube lengths and diameters with one video unit.
Argolytics, LLC’s SPC software is built specifically for small and medium-size manufacturers. Trendable™ is a lightweight and affordable quality control reporting solution. In three simple steps, users get polished, intuitive output without having to be a statistics or SPC expert.