In manufacturing, inspection involves testing, measuring, gauging and examining a specimen or material to determine whether it’s in adequate condition or not. Specific standards are typically set and results of inspections are compared against them to determine if the inspected material passes the quality control testing. In the old days, inspections were performed by human workers only. A workforce – equipped with gadgets for testing the equipment – checked the parts or products manually. Sometimes, workers used only their senses to determine if the specimen met quality standards.
However, with technological advancements and increasing demand for quality products from customers, automated inspection of parts has become a valuable and essential tool for manufacturing companies of today. Inspection equipment used nowadays makes use of technologies like motion systems, optics and probes to determine a product’s quality. Automating inspection process has allowed production of higher-quality products in greater numbers. How does automated inspection of parts improve the reliability and efficiency of manufacturing procedures? Let’s find out.
Mass Production
Before the introduction of assembling lines, manufacturing of machines and machineries didn’t require large scale of production of similar components. If there was any part that didn’t fit the machine, adjustments would be made by a craftsperson to the other parts so that the two finished pieces can work together.
But, as mass production has become the norm, it is essential to manufacture all components properly to ensure any mating parts fit perfectly. For example, in the large scale production of automobile, it is essential to manufacture all the components within given parameters. Otherwise, parts or components won’t fit together in the final stages of automobile production.
Automated inspection of parts ensures that all components and parts are measured properly to meet the specific dimensions as well as quality standards. That allows manufacturing companies to mass produce components without delay.
More Rigorous Testing
Many times, manual inspections aren’t enough to properly scrutinize a component for defects. Sometimes, even small flaws can result in catastrophic failures leading to the loss of property or life.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen, it is necessary to employ highly accurate and efficient automated testing technologies.
For example, in manufacturing semiconductor products and circuit boards, testing methods such as wafer testing is essential to ensure that products don’t have any critical defect. As these kinds of products are employed in many electronic equipments and devices including smartphones, errors can lead to severe consequences.
Reduces Costs of Manufacturing
Many manufacturing companies can minimize labor costs by employing advanced automated facilities for inspection of their parts. Moreover, by using such equipment, they can reduce the total amount of materials and parts being wasted which would further minimize the manufacturing costs of a company.
If you’re looking for automated inspection system, then check out the Cincinnati Automation’s products. For more information, feel free to contact us.
