2025 May

Check out the May 2025 edition of Quality! Read our cover story on Quality's 2025 Rookie of the Year, Attrayee Chakraborty. Read more features on force measurement, calibration testing, a Vision & Sensors special section, and much more!

A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

Meet the 2025 Rookie of the Year: Attrayee Chakraborty

Attrayee Chakraborty is a quality professional in the medical field, with a biotechnology background and expertise in AI.

Michelle Bangert

April 29, 2025

Quality is honored to name Attrayee Chakraborty as our 2025 Quality Rookie of the Year. Discover how she earned the award through her groundbreaking work in medical device quality and AI integration.

Morehouse Digital Proving Ring with a white background.

Measurement

The Morehouse Proving Ring: A Century of Precision in Force Measurement

The ring had far-reaching consequences across multiple industries.

Henry Zumbrun

April 21, 2025

As we celebrate 100 years of the Morehouse Proving Ring, it's important to recognize the historical context of its creation and its impact on industry and safety. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw rapid industrialization, leading to significant technological advancements and safety challenges.

Starrett AVR400 Multisensor Vision System featuring a touch probe.

Measurement

Multisensor Metrology Explained

Your multisensor metrology questions answered.

V. Michael Cogliano

April 28, 2025

Multisensor metrology technology combines various measurement methods, such as digital cameras and touch probing, in a single system to provide fast, efficient, and accurate part measurements.

Professional calibration of pressure gauges and sensors. Working person sits at desk and is engaged in verification of instrumentation.

Test & Inspection

How Much Does That Calibration Test Really Cost?

The true cost of calibration testing often stays hidden, escaping scrutiny in operational and maintenance metrics.

Greg Cenker

April 30, 2025

Calibration lab quotes are often based on ideal conditions, but the true costs of calibration testing can remain hidden from metrics. When these costs appear, managers may blame the lab. By using risk control tools and investing in quality equipment, labs can reduce these hidden expenses.

An engineer holds a laptop with mock-up charts. In the blurred background, three people are working together at a desk.

Software

Before and After Control Charts, Pareto Charts and Histograms

In control charts, you can show process changes so that you can see what it was like before and after the improvement

Jay Arthur

April 30, 2025

Over the last 20 years at conferences, I've noticed many improvement posters rely on line and bar charts, which aren't always effective. While some use control charts and histograms, they often miss illustrating the "before and after" of improvements. It's crucial to better showcase these changes with appropriate chart types.

Close up of an AHP ball joint tester system.

Case Study

A Challenge and A Solution: Automotive Manufacturers Can Do Something They Simply Couldn't Before

Tim Gessner

April 14, 2025

AHP Hydraulics, a Belgian solutions integrator known for delivering "smart solutions in hydraulics," faced a significant challenge from client SIDEM NV, which needed a more precise ball joint tester for its automotive suspension and steering units.

Three people having a discussion in the office in car manufacturing. The background is blurred.

From the Editor

Why Preparation is Critical for Closing the Manufacturing Skills Gap

Darryl Seland

May 2, 2025

Preparation can help us solve a big problem. Take, for instance, the workforce gap in manufacturing. Planning an approach can make all the difference.

Two employees in hardhats checking inventory on warehouse racks.

Management

Protecting Quality When Tariffs Tighten the Screws

In a post-tariff environment, quality is also about operational agility.

Syed Ali

April 28, 2025

Tariffs on steel and aluminum impact supply chains and increase costs for companies. Technology tools like EAM, ITAM, and CMMS are becoming essential in the construction industry, improving efficiency while managing quality and costs during economic uncertainty.

Businessman explaining his concept during a meeting.

Speaking of Quality

Becoming the ASQ Industry Liaison

Being ASQ’s connection to industry allows you to contribute immensely to a dynamic and thriving professional Quality community.

William Lacy

April 7, 2025

Becoming the Industry Liaison for the ASQ Inspection Division was a rewarding opportunity that I learned about from a colleague. After some consideration, I decided to take on the role to enhance quality and productivity across various industries.

Senior expert mechanic coaching a trainee in a manufacturing plant.

ASME Guest Column

Registered Apprenticeship Programs Offer Significant Value for Manufacturing Employers

While not the only tool in addressing workforce shortages, apprenticeship programs offer manufacturing companies many benefits.

Kathleen Kosmoski

April 6, 2025

The manufacturing industry faces a significant workforce crisis, with 77% of manufacturers struggling to fill positions and a projected shortage of 2.1 million workers by 2030, potentially costing the economy $1 trillion. Job growth in mechanical engineering is expected to be 11% from 2023-2033, primarily in manufacturing.

Portrait of a black female engineer technician smiling, wearing a hard hat and holding a clipboard in a warehouse packaging factory.

Face of Quality | Jim L. Smith

Focus on Process Cycle Time to Save Time and Money

Focus on time.

Jim L. Smith

April 12, 2025

The phrase "time is money," often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, originally appeared in his 1748 essay "Advice to a Young Tradesman" as "Remember that time is money." This concept highlights how critical business processes can create bottlenecks that negatively impact efficiency and capacity limits.

Close-up of engine and main landing gear of passenger airplane.

IAQG Column

The Value of Being a Certified Supplier

While the journey to certification can be challenging, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial hurdles.

Bret Cooper

April 13, 2025

Certification as a supplier boosts reputation and efficiency in the aerospace market by ensuring quality and compliance. This leads to better communication, change management, and higher customer satisfaction.

Colorful Lightbulbs Connected To Human Brains By Dotted Lines On Blue Background - Innovation and Teamwork Concept

The Quality Edge

The Forgotten Methodology

Learn more about TRIZ, or the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.

John Vandenbemden

April 14, 2025

TRIZ reduces the risk of unpredictable outcomes common in brainstorming by identifying that 90-95% of engineers' root problems have already been solved, often in different industries using different technologies.

Engineering women using a tablet and having a discussion at a warehouse.

Column | NCSLi

Anatomy of the Next-Generation Quality Auditor

Auditors anticipate supply chain challenges, cybersecurity threats, and regulatory changes.

Patrick Jester , JD., CQA

April 27, 2025

The role of quality auditors has evolved into that of strategic leaders and data experts, driven by technology and industry demands. This article highlights the key traits and importance of modern quality professionals.

Mature businessman using laptop in a factory.

Standards 101

Internal Auditor OSHA 101 Training

Each of these items can and will lead to ISO 45001 findings from your registrar.

Roderick A Munro

April 27, 2025

So, what should your internal auditors be aware of and watch out for? Find the most common issues noted during the years of IMS audits conducted at my clients. Each of these items can and will lead to ISO 45001 findings from your registrar as well.

See3CAM_CU83 - 4K AR0830 RGB-IR USB 3.2 Gen 1 camera

Vision & Sensors | Cameras

How RGB-IR Cameras Are Transforming Medical Imaging

Modern medical imaging systems can leverage the strengths of both spectra, leading to improved diagnostic capabilities and superior imaging across various medical use cases.

Prabu Kumar

April 1, 2025

RGB-IR camera technology simultaneously captures standard color (RGB) and infrared (IR) light using a specialized filter. This integration enhances medical imaging by providing improved diagnostic capabilities through dual-spectrum capture.

Close up of machine part measuring production line in factory.

Vision & Sensors | Deep Learning

A Wrong Vision of Efficiency

Our obsession with efficiency is killing our effectiveness in deep learning machine vision.

Jack Bimber

April 2, 2025

As a coffee enthusiast, I often rely on the energizing effects of caffeine to fuel my productivity, pushing through fatigue to get more done. Yet, I’ve learned that sacrificing sleep ultimately hinders my efficiency, and taking time to rest significantly boosts my performance.

Filters with different lens colors and shapes.

Vision & Sensors | Lighting

The Critical Role of Wavelength and Filters in Machine Vision Illumination

Harnessing light’s hidden powers for precision inspection goes beyond the spectrum of visible light

John D. Thrailkil

April 3, 2025

Proper illumination is vital for machine vision systems to capture high-quality images. Key factors include lighting geometry, intensity, wavelength, and optical filters. A strong grasp of these elements helps engineers overcome imaging challenges and build reliable inspection systems.

Close-up of camera lens on black background.

Vision & Sensors | Optics

Precision in Optical Metrology: Telecentric vs. Endocentric Imaging

Choosing the right optical setup is critical to minimizing errors and ensuring that dimensional measurements are repeatable and reliable.

Astrid Sommerkamp

April 4, 2025

Optical metrology is crucial for precision in industrial quality control, especially in automotive and medical sectors. Unlike the human eye, cameras depend on pixel resolution for edge detection, making optics selection essential. Telecentric and endocentric lenses offer distinct benefits and limitations, helping professionals make informed decisions.

Discover how advanced FAI software automates First Article Inspection workflows by generating inspection plans, validating results in real time, integrating 2D/3D data, and reducing quality escapes to improve efficiency and compliance.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 PharmSci 360 held on October 25-28, 2026 in New Orleans!

AAPS is the convener of the pharmaceutical science community, bringing together thousands of scientists from across the world and the drug development process. For them, PharmSci 360 combines all the energy of a large scientific conference with the intimacy of a small niche meeting because of its unique programming structure.

PharmSci 360 is built on five tracks that cover the pharmaceutical development process. Scientists attending the meeting report that they build their schedule to solve their problems, and may attend programming in only one track or all of them!

Quality Magazine

Cover Story