2023 February

Check out the February 2023 edition of Quality, featuring an NDT special edition, our main feature on how to launch a digital twin strategy, our annual Quality Leadership Rankings and much more!

Quality 101

How to Launch a Digital Twin Strategy for Quality Control

Producing a digital twin that opens opportunities for quality control improvements requires accurate, high-resolution data.

Emily Starinieri

February 9, 2023

6 Comments

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?

Case Study

A Complete View: Quality Assurance for Premium Headlights

Quality assurance at ZKW Lighting Systems had increasingly reached its limits with conventional measurement technology.

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

February 10, 2023

No Comments

ZKW Lighting Systems develops and manufactures innovative, high-quality lighting systems for the automobile industry. But new materials, complex designs and tight tolerances push conventional metrology to its limits. Two ZEISS METROTOM computer tomographs offer completely new possibilities.

Test & Inspection

Inspection Fixturing – Not A Question Of IF!

Whether you've been tasked with designing fixtures or sourcing them for your company, there are several details to consider.

Catherine M. Phillips

February 8, 2023

3 Comments

Whether you’re machining or inspecting, the profits are in the speed of the swap. Like CNC machining, it should no longer be a question of if you need inspection fixturing, but what type.

QM 0223 Software Digital Maturity feature

Software & Analysis

A Dollar Today Is Worth More Than a Dollar Tomorrow:

How assuming digital maturity is key to quality, competitive advantage, and intelligent technology.

Sue Marchant

February 6, 2023

7 Comments

According to MasterControl’s 2022 Digital Quality Maturity Study conducted by Cicero research, the majority of quality organizations are going digital, have plans to go digital within the next five years, or believe this is where they need to go to achieve compliance and remain competitive.

Measurement

The Elephant in the Room, or the Impact of Measurement Uncertainty on Risk

We cannot simply ignore the risk associated with a measurement by ignoring its associated uncertainty of measurement.

Heather A Wade

February 2, 2023

14 Comments

In order for a measurement to be valid, i.e., to have measurement (metrological) traceability, it must be stated with its associated measurement uncertainty.

Management | Leadership Survey

2023 Quality Leadership Ranking: Employee Appreciation Will Get You Far

The annual Quality leadership ranking showcases companies leading the way despite manufacturing challenges.

Michelle Bangert

February 1, 2023

9 Comments

Maybe it’s a chili cook-off. Maybe it’s recognition. Or maybe just respect. Whatever it is, top companies know how to treat employees well—and get results. When I spoke with this year’s top Quality Leadership companies, several themes emerged. The annual Quality Leadership ranking showcase companies leading the way despite manufacturing challenges.

From the Editor | Darryl Seland

Risk Versus Reward

What would you give up now for something potentially greater in the future?

Darryl Seland

February 20, 2023

One Comment

Information, knowledge, confidence, and an appreciation of risk and reward are important in quality.

Speaking of Quality | Tash Baksh

Common Pushbacks that Quality Professionals Hear

These situations are going to keep coming. Here's how to deal with them.

Tash Baksh

February 20, 2023

No Comments

Quality professionals quickly learn that they need to deal with a barrage of situations where their expertise is required to intervene, provide perspective, or in some cases lead teams to come up with a solution.

NDT | Magnetic Particle Inspection

Magnetic Particle Inspection Is Here to Stay

While magnetic particle inspection techniques have stood the test of time, the equipment involved has seen updates to keep up with demand, experts say.

Genevieve Diesing

February 16, 2023

2 Comments

Magnetic particle inspection ensures that parts are free of fatigue stress, structural defects, or stress cracks. The technology, which can be applied to existing, in-use parts, or newly manufactured parts and components that require integrity testing, has been around for more than a century.

NDT | Force Testing

Measuring Force Data in Extreme Conditions

Manufacturers want more data in the product development process to create better products, and they need solutions that can perform in any condition.

Keith Skidmore

February 15, 2023

4 Comments

>Manufacturers want more data in the product development process to create better products, and they need solutions that can perform in any condition, especially when running field testing.

NDT | Radiography

Why Additional Training Is Needed When Transitioning From Film Radiography To Digital Radiography

It is essential to have additional formal training to understand key image quality requirements.

James F. Molinaro Jr.

February 14, 2023

9 Comments

Is it really essential for well experienced certified film radiographers to receive additional formal training and experience? After all, radiography is radiography. In my opinion, the answer is yes!

Vision-guided robotics (VGR) utilizing both 2D and 3D imaging solutions remains one of the hottest technologies and applications within the industrial automation space. In this webinar, we will look into the recent evolution of VGR as it tackles new and emerging applications.

This exciting new event by ASSEMBLY will connect assembly manufacturing professionals in the U.S. South – where manufacturing is BOOMING – with everything needed to thrive in a growth market! Learn cutting-edge process improvement strategies from leading subject matter experts, network with like-minded peers who could become valuable business partners, and explore interactive displays of working equipment and technology from the industry’s leading suppliers.

Quality Magazine

Cover Story