| Quality Magazine

Check out the November 2024 edition of Quality! Read our cover story on a new look at GD&T and advances in 3D scanning. Read the latest Speaking of Quality column, an NDT special section, and much more!

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Measurement

3D Scanning and Model-Based Definition: A New Look at GD&T

Many people know about GD&T, but often use it incorrectly — often setting up measurement points inaccurately and misusing size rules.

Genevieve Diesing

October 4, 2024

The use of advanced 3D scanning tools is revolutionizing quality control, design, and manufacturing, particularly with the adoption of digital standards and 3D printing. However, this shift presents challenges in maintaining consistent standards globally and across different regulations.

Quality 101

Compression Testing: How to Put the Squeeze on Materials for Quality Control

Compression testing is a vital process in quality control, helping manufacturers evaluate the strength, durability, and stability of materials.

Steve Cosgrove

October 6, 2024

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.

Vision & Sensors | Lighting

Blue LEDs are the New Standard for Monochrome Vision Systems

I hope to shed a little light on why blue is a superior LED choice over red now.

David Hardy

September 10, 2024

Selecting the correct LED lighting for machine vision can be challenging, even for experienced professionals. While red LEDs are commonly used, blue LEDs can be a superior choice for certain applications.

Medical

Medical Devices: Breaking into an Industry

I have worked in regulatory and quality teams for surgical eye implants, virtual reality based devices and wearables for remote patient monitoring, along with providing thought leadership on artificial intelligence regulation.

Attrayee (Atty) Chakraborty MS, MSc.

October 5, 2024

How did I end up working with medical devices? Reflecting on my career, it's been diverse. Three years ago, I was working on protein structure in research labs. I never thought I'd be in the world of quality later on!

Smiling businesswoman standing in front of a whiteboard with charts and sticky notes.

Management

Leverage Industry 4.0 to Support a Healthy Organization

The value of Industry or Technology 4.0 comes when it supports organizational goals, aligns with the strategic plan, and enables employees to improve how work gets done.

Grace L Duffy MBA, LSSMBB

October 3, 2024

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.

Worker pushing a tool cart in a calibration workshop.

Software

Seven Ways that AI Will Make Calibration Faster and More Efficient

When data is in an easily readable digital format, users can harness the power of AI to further improve their calibration processes.

Sami Koskinen

October 7, 2024

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.

Test & Inspection

Compression Testing Fundamentals

Compression testing can be a critical diagnostic tool in all phases of the product development cycle, from prototyping through production.

Richard Gedney

October 8, 2024

Compression testing is key in materials science for evaluating how materials respond to compressive loads. It helps determine mechanical properties like stiffness, strength, and fatigue life. This overview covers the testing process, material properties, standards, applications, challenges, and best practices.

Man is welding vintage Porsche car frame with sparks flying.

Manufacturing Excellence

Manufacturing in America Again

Attracting and retaining a quality workforce is the number one issue for the manufacturing sector.

Praveen Gupta

October 19, 2024

I looked into national voices for manufacturing and visited the NAM (National Association of Manufacturers), which has about 14,000 member companies employing around 13 million people. NAM advocates for manufacturers at the government level and has been focused on bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. since 2020.

Grass-covered vehicle emitting green leaves with a white background.

Standards 101

Greenhouse Gases Related to ISO 9001 Amendment 1 Clause 4.2 – and other Management System Standards (MSS)

With a note added on climate change, the potential flood gates have now been opened to any number of new customer requirements.

Roderick A Munro

October 2, 2024

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.

A male soccer player kicks a ball, and a soccer goalie jumps in motion for a ball while defending his gates in a wide-angle panoramic image of an outdoor soccer stadium or arena full of spectators under a sunny sky.

Metrology Corner

The Role of Metrology in the Olympics

Here are some examples of metrology implication in two of the most attended Olympic events: soccer and swimming.

Emil Hazarian CCPE, MSQA – MSME Dipl. Ing.

October 18, 2024

The Paris 2024 Olympics highlight global unity and the crucial role of metrology in ensuring accuracy and fairness in sports. Precise timing in events like track and swimming, accurate measurements in javelin and cycling, and monitoring environmental factors all contribute to the integrity of the Games and uphold competitive excellence.

Automotive remote key with a "CAR RENTAL" keychain on a white background

Lean with Lazarus | Ian R. Lazarus

Delayed by Deadly Wastes: A Rented Car Gives Rise to All 8 of Them

Little did I know that I was about to be exposed to the 8 deadly wastes, all in one single transaction.

Ian R Lazarus

October 17, 2024

In a world where every minute matters, a car rental turns into a frustrating ordeal of delays and inefficiencies. Will I reach my important meeting on time, or will I be exposed to the 8 deadly wastes?

Quality Rocks

If it’s Boeing – I’m not Going!

Stranded astronauts, troubled Starliner spacecraft lead to bruising perspective

Jim Doxey

September 5, 2024

Beleaguered Boeing Starliner's return to Earth — without the astronauts —is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, September 5th.

Young man industrial engineer wearing a white helmet while check the welding on the production line in the factory.

The Quality Edge

ITAF Rule 6 Changes

The transition to the new Rules 6 must be completed by January 1, 2025, after which they will be mandatory for all audits.

John Vandenbemden

October 14, 2024

The sixth edition of the IATF Rules, released on March 31, 2024, introduces significant changes to certification requirements, including a shift to performance and risk-based audits. These updates, aimed at improving audit efficiency and certifiability, must be adopted by January 1, 2025.

Column

The Importance of Regulations in Certification and Audit Standards in Quality Management

Organizations that prioritize these certifications and effectively navigate the audit process position themselves as leaders in their industries.

Roberto Ciaschi

October 16, 2024

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.

Automated Robot Arm Assembly Line Manufacturing Facility, On the Desk Computer with Turbine Prototype, Design Advanced 3D Model for High-Tech Green Energy Electric Engine.

Column

Enhancing Quality Management in the Automotive Industry with Digital Twins and Augmented Reality

By integrating extensive data and employing advanced analytics, digital twins help predict potential issues, optimize processes, and ensure consistent product quality.

Jeromy Peterson

October 16, 2024

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.

Female employee working at a solar panel factory wearing protective workwear and looking at the camera smiling.

Speaking of Quality | W. Frazier Pruitt

NextGen: Attracting, Retaining, and Developing the Next Generation in Quality

Like any good quality tool, a structured approach to attracting, retaining, and developing NextGen leaders can profoundly impact the quality profession.

W. Frazier Pruitt

October 20, 2024

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.

A blonde-haired boy in a striped shirt is looking up, smiling, with his right hand on his chin, with a black background.

From the Editor

Bridging the Manufacturing Skills Gap: Inspiring Careers in Quality and Metrology

Darryl Seland

November 4, 2024

One of the major challenges in the manufacturing industry is the skills gap and the need to attract more individuals, especially young people, to pursue careers in this field. Organizations like IMTS and ASQ emphasize the importance of showcasing the opportunities that a career in manufacturing offers.

Fig. 1: Raster scan using Single element UT vs Phased Array.

NDT | Back2Basics

Enhancing Automated NDT: Leveraging Advanced 3D Phased Array Scanning and C-Scan Mapping Techniques for Aerospace Applications

These technologies enhance the accuracy, speed, and thoroughness of flaw detection in critical components, contributing to improved safety and reliability in aerospace operations.

Ahmad Chahbaz

October 9, 2024

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.

Electric car lithium battery pack. Blue toned. Car maintenance.

NDT | Trends

Superior Battery Quality: How Automated Defect Recognition Supports Battery Manufacturers On Their Road To Excellence

Electrification will drastically change our energy consumption in the coming years, and with it our everyday lives.

Michael Ulbricht

October 13, 2024

Batteries are key to electrification, demanding high-quality control and efficient production. The use of Automated Defect Recognition (ADR) and other technologies is critical as the industry aims to scale up to meet the rising demand from electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage sectors, while also minimizing environmental impacts.

NDT1124-FEAT-Test-p1-Image 1_Preparing VCI Film Strips for VIA Testing.jpg

NDT | Test & Inspection

Corrosion Testing: An Important Piece of the Quality Assurance Puzzle

Whether performed onsite or outsourced to an ISO 17025 accredited lab, the tests described here are great ways to screen corrosion inhibiting materials during the selection process.

Julie Holmquist Luke Stone

October 12, 2024

Corrosion prevention is vital for quality assurance in metal goods manufacturing. It helps avoid production delays and customer complaints from rust. Key strategies include four types of corrosion testing: VIA, humidity and salt fog, and iron chip testing. These tests aid in selecting effective protection methods and the right rust preventative dosage.

NDT | Analysis

Ensuring Quality Control in Additive Manufacturing Using Advanced Elemental Analysis

Compositional analysis forms an indispensable building block within additive manufacturing.

Dirk Wissmann

October 11, 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is crucial for producing complex, accurate parts with minimal waste. Ensuring the quality of raw materials and finished metal parts is essential for its success. This paper emphasizes the need for compositional analysis and strict quality control in AM.

NDT | Eddy Current

The History and Theory of Eddy Current Inspection

Compared to the other NDT disciplines, many would say that eddy current inspection is the least used as well as the most difficult to comprehend.

George Hopman

October 10, 2024

Eddy current inspection is one of the five main non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in the industry, alongside liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, and radiographic testing. Due to its complex theoretical basis, it is the least used and hardest to understand.

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Quality Magazine

2024 November

Cover Story