Quality Magazine

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2024 April

Check out the April 2024 edition of Quality! Read our cover story and meet the 2024 Quality Professional of the Year, read Dane Sanders' Exit Strategy Series, and much more!

Cover Story

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Management

Meet the 2024 Quality Professional of the Year: Dr. Milton Krivokuca

If you're looking to learn more about management, auditing, engineering, Six Sigma, supply chains, or calibration, there's someone I'd like you to meet.
Michelle Bangert
Michelle Bangert
March 20, 2024

Dr. Milton Krivokuca, our 2024 Quality Professional of the Year, shifted from manufacturing to education, guiding students to faster degrees and career advancement. He actively promotes quality assurance programs and stays updated on industry trends like Quality 4.0, proving his dedication and expertise.


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Features

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ATEQ FP726-LV
Test & Inspection

How to Improve Quality Control by Managing a Drifting Zero Point during Air Leak Testing

Why zero drift occurs and ways to mitigate or even eliminate it.
Anne-Marie Dewailly
March 25, 2024

Plant engineers and quality departments often struggle with zero point drift during air leak testing, where the initial zero reading shifts over time, leading to frequent adjustments of the leak test instrument. This article addresses the causes of zero drift, commonly attributed to changes in shop floor temperature, and provides strategies to minimize or eliminate this issue for improved efficiency in quality control processes.


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Realistic round relay. Metal button that is spinning isolated on a white background.
Software & Analysis

Don’t Touch That Process-Improvement Dial!

Despite your best intentions, you cannot improve a process without first differentiating between common and special causes.
Paul Keller
March 21, 2024

In many production settings, machine operators are tasked with monitoring processes by taking samples and making adjustments as needed to maintain productivity. However, there's a question worth exploring: What if ignoring these data-driven adjustments and allowing the process to continue unchanged is a better strategy?


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Computer connected Air Gaging
Measurement

Air Gaging Transforms Manufacturing Processes in Automotive and Aerospace Industries

These devices find extensive use in various manufacturing processes, from automotive to aerospace industries.
Anthony Diiorio
March 22, 2024

Air gauges are non-contact devices that utilize air pressure for measurement. They play a crucial role in ensuring precision and quality control in the manufacturing industry, from automotive to aerospace industries. They are particularly valuable for measuring delicate or easily deformable materials.


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Columns

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Robot arm with 3D scanner. Automated scanning.
CMS Column | Justin Novak

How Has Metrology Changed in the Past 40 Years?

A lot has happened since 1984, and we're just getting started.
Justin Novak
Justin Novak
April 3, 2024

From Theodolites to Laser Trackers: A 40-Year Metrology Revolution. Witness how a technical field has evolved, enabling single-micron accuracy at your fingertips and powering smart factories for unprecedented efficiency.


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Young man texting using smartphone over isolated background stressed with hand on head.
Column | John Vandenbemden

Is Customer Satisfaction Dead?

Human nature requires face-to-face interaction as a key component for happiness.
QM 0322 Professional of the Year John Vandenbemden
John Vandenbemden
March 28, 2024

Blaming technology for lower customer satisfaction due to reduced personal interaction, while emphasizing the importance of face-to-face meetings for happiness and increased effectiveness, highlights the need for strategies like limiting electronics during meals and following established standards.


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From the Editor April column: Boeing-737 Max 8 in the sky
From the Editor | Darryl Seland

Houston?! I Think We Have a Quality Control Problem

DarrylSeland_200
Darryl Seland
March 26, 2024

On March 9, NPR reported Boeing was unable to find any paperwork about the door plug and attributed a top Boeing official saying, “It was likely that such records never existed.” Roughly one day later, the Wall Street Journal reported the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation.


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Lean with Lazarus Column feature image of a partially open white door surrounded by darkness, with light showing through.
Lean with Lazarus | Ian R. Lazarus

Don’t Close the Door on the Most Basic Quality Principles

If the culture in your organization is essentially "do the best you can," then you really need to take a closer look at these methods.
Ian Lazarus
Ian R Lazarus
March 20, 2024

"For years, I've been told, 'The safest part of your journey has come to an end.' Initially, I took this to mean just getting home from the airport, but now I question, 'Was I ever truly safe to begin with?'"


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NDT

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Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic Inspecting and Working on Airplane Jet Engine in Hangar
NDT | Training

The Evolution of NDT Training

Where does the bulk of NDT training responsibility lie, in the classroom or in the field?
Donald Booth
March 15, 2024

Where does the bulk of NDT training responsibility lie, in the classroom or in the field? Nondestructive testing (NDT) is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability. However, there is an ongoing debate about where the bulk of NDT training responsibility lies.


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NDT Force measurement system
NDT | Force Measurement

Force Measurement and AI: Predicting Product Failure

How AI improves the analysis of data acquired from force measurement to prevent future product or production failures.
Steve Cosgrove
March 14, 2024

Manufacturing requires testing every product. Force measurement ensures reliability. AI helps analyze data for streamlined quality control to prevent future failures.


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RWE NPower NDT services
NDT | Standards

Certification standards within nondestructive testing: Options for NDT Personnel

As NDT evolves, it is typical for the personnel certification requirements attributed to the NDT methods, technologies and techniques to also evolve.
Patrick Boulton
March 13, 2024

NDT personnel must be qualified and certified to perform their tasks safely and correctly. BINDT provides certification options for central certification under the PCN banner, complying with BS EN ISO 9712:2022. Other certification systems, such as employer-based schemes, also exist.


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Man with umbrella and coat stands outside while it rains at night looking at a building.
NDT | Ethics

Nondestructive Testing: Is there an ethics problem?

A whistleblower shares his story.
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Dale Norwood
March 12, 2024

I was a whistleblower who exposed fraudulent activities at Ultrasonic Research and Testing Laboratory in Dallas, Texas, back in 1991. The reaction of some people in the nondestructive testing (NDT) community surprised me since the industry is a close-knit group with many connections between individuals.


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NDT April 2024 Ultrasonics: Linear phased array (right) allows 2D scanning in one direction while matrix phased array (left) enables 3D scanning in all directions
NDT | Ultrasonics

Smart Inspection: Latest developments and novel approaches in industrial ultrasonic testing

Compact design and automation are important aspects in meeting the inspection requirements of today and the future.
Dr. Thomas Wuerschig
March 1, 2024

In the field of NDT, industrial ultrasonic testing (UT) is a long-established method. However, new materials and components are finding their way into the industry, requiring continuous technological advances. With stricter regulations, workforce shortages, and rising inspection needs worldwide, the urgency for smarter, more efficient inspection methods is critical.


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Automation

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Robotics LBR iisy cobot FMO Surface
Quality in Automation | Robotics

Advanced Automation Delivers the Ultimate in Quality Control

When considering the type of robot for automating inspection tasks, cobots are often the initial go-to solution.
Yarek Niedbala
March 29, 2024

Automating testing and inspection requires careful consideration of tools, including robot type, end-of-arm tooling, and ancillary systems. While cobots are popular for quality tasks, their full collaborative capabilities may not be utilized in some applications, leading to higher costs without maximizing benefits.


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Adding machine learning with robotic pick-and-place or bin-picking system that recognizes and pick a much wider variety of parts, which may be of different shapes, sizes, colors, or materials.
Quality in Automation | Automation

Machine Vision Advancements Simplify, Improve Vision-Guided Robot Systems

3D Imaging, AI-Based Software, and Industrial Computing Democratize Application-Specific Automation Systems.
Nathan Hepp
March 29, 2024

Automation systems encompass various technologies beyond just robots, such as machine vision. Integrating machine vision with robots enhances automation capabilities. Advancements like 3D imaging, AI software, and industrial computing are driving new applications and efficiencies across industries.


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3D render AI artificial intelligence concept against random moving CPU central processing unit with brain HUD and FUI element.
Quality in Automation | Artificial Intelligence

The Future of AI for Visual Inspection and Visual Quality Control in Electronics

With the rise of AI and the global restructuring of where goods are manufactured, leaders must devise a new strategy for visual quality control.
Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
March 29, 2024

Quality organizations are at the forefront of adopting AI in electronics manufacturing, addressing well-defined challenges that impact business efficiency. While traditional quality control methods like functional tests and visual inspection are common, AI's integration is revolutionizing these processes with advancements in machine vision and enhanced analytical capabilities.


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New Scale Robotics: an automated gaging system used to measure a small tray of surgical drills.
Quality in Automation | Automation

Leveraging automation for quality gains

As automation simplifies and enhances manufacturing processes, quality control staff see significant career advantages, making a shift towards more efficient, consistent, and data-driven production environments.
Genevieve Diesing
March 29, 2024

Manufacturing automation is on the rise, offering quality control workers a career advantage. Stefan Friedrich of New Scale Robotics notes that as manufacturers embrace automation, it becomes more user-friendly, aiding new workers in using robots and software effectively.


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Automate event featuring automation demonstration using white vehicle.
Quality in Automation | Column

Robot sales poised for recovery in mid-2024 due to labor shortages, reshoring, AI

No matter the industry, companies find that to fill labor gaps and improve productivity, automating more manual tasks simply makes sense.
Jeff Burnstein
March 18, 2024

Automate 2024 is seeing record registrations, indicating a surge in automation growth in North America. Anticipated sales recovery in the latter half of 2024 spans industries like healthcare, construction, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, driven by the recognition of automation's benefits in handling challenging tasks.


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