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Ensuring the Quality of Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturing Amid Surging Demand

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries power many of our daily devices. However, manufacturing them requires scarce base metals and has supply and sustainability challenges. Battery recycling is vital for the supply chain. This article discusses using analytical technologies to maximize Li-ion materials and optimize production.




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Ensuring Quality Control in Additive Manufacturing Using Advanced Elemental Analysis

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.




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Corrosion Testing: An Important Piece of the Quality Assurance Puzzle

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.




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

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.




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Quick Slide Plate

R&R Vision Fixtures new quick slide plate in conjunction with their Quick Load Corner (QLC) enables you to extend the reach of travel on your vision system.




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ASQ Training

ASQ Learning Institute Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Plus QTools Training is a self-paced, suite of e-learning courses designed to teach everyone in your company the PDSA continuous improvement model, and related problem solving quality tools.




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QT9 QMS Quality Management Software

QT9 Software launched QT9 QMS Version 16.0, adding two new modules and numerous improvements to its quality management software (QMS).




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ETQ AI-Based Predictive Quality Analytics Solution

ETQ, part of Hexagon, launched the ETQ Reliance® Predictive Quality Analytics solution, bringing a new level of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics to its ETQ quality management system (QMS).




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Results in for the 23rd Annual Quality Spending Survey

Would it shock you to learn that spending on artificial intelligence is on the rise? According to respondents of our Annual Quality Spending Survey, 55% of companies expect to increase their spending on AI for 2024.




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Five Quality Companies to Know: DIT-MCO International

Welcome to our ranking of perennial quality superstars. DIT-MCO International has been on our Leadership list for multiple years. Congratulations and keep up the good work.




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Houston?! I Think We Have a Quality Control Problem

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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Meet the 2024 Quality Rookie of the Year: Justin Wise

Justin Wise is an exceptional individual who has been deployed seven times and is fluent in Navajo and Cahuilla. He is currently an inspector general with the Navy, having worked for several years at the DCMA, where he was recognized as the 2021 Quality Representative of the Year. Justin Wise is worth honoring as our 2024 Rookie of the Year.




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Culture of Quality Takes Center Stage in Latest Boeing News

As the public trials and tribulations of Boeing continue, we have started to hear discussion of the loss of a culture at Boeing.




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Rebuilding Boeing’s Quality: A New Approach to Manufacturing Excellence

Boeing needs to improve its manufacturing approach to prioritize transparency and continual improvement, which can also help other organizations improve their quality and bottom line.




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Quality Training: Advancements, Methods, and Trends

Quality training is crucial for success in rapidly evolving industries like additive manufacturing, welding, and nondestructive testing.




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Enhancing Metrology through Automation: Elevating Quality and Cycle Time in Precision Manufacturing

The aerospace industry uses automation and metrology to improve product quality and safety. Components require precise measurements for high quality and efficient production.




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The Case for Re-Educating Leadership on How to Manage for Quality

Leaders prioritize efficiency and productivity over quality management, compromising long-term standards, evident in the widespread adoption of operational excellence programs like Lean and Six Sigma.





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

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.




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Know Your True Cost of Quality with Integrated ERP

Calculating the true cost of quality becomes faster and simpler with an ERP system that does it for you. This requires a system that includes four essential capabilities.




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The Concept of Quality 4.0 Continues to Evolve

The topic of Quality 4.0 is rapidly becoming a legend due to its mysterious nature; it seemingly has no formal description. Very few people can confidently say that they have seen it or used it. 




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How to Launch a Digital Twin Strategy for Quality Control

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?




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Pareto Charts in Quality Control: A Snapshot

Pareto charts provide clarity and direction, helping quality control departments target and resolve key challenges.




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GD&T for Electric Vehicles Supports Consistent Quality Control

Model-Based Definition (MBD) offers a modernized approach to implementing GD&T into electric motor production using 3D models instead of traditional 2D drawings.




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A Holistic Approach to Quality: A Post-Show Q&A with 2023 Quality’s Plant of the Year, Reed Switch Developments Corp.

A Q&A with Reed Switch Developments Corp. president Debra Dahlin, and Engineering and QA Manager, Jeff Rosenbaum, to talk more about its holistic approach to quality.




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Maximizing Medical Device Quality: A Guide to Implementing Operational Excellence

Ensuring high quality in medical device manufacturing requires operational excellence, which optimizes efficiency and enhances product quality and compliance. Let’s explore some of the key elements and best practices.




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

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.




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My Favorite of the Seven Basic Quality Tools

This month, I'm honored to speak at the ASQ Columbus (Ohio) Section’s annual conference on the theme "What is in Your Toolbox?" I'll discuss the seven basic quality tools I've extensively used over my 30+ years as a quality professional. Interestingly, unlike with my children, I do have a favorite among these tools.






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Video Podcast: Overcoming Threats to Quality Culture

Daniel Zrymiak highlights key threats to quality culture from his experience. Organizations must continuously check for these threats in operations and discussions, ready to respond appropriately.




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

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.





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

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.





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Reflections as ASQ Inspection Division Chair: Delivering Value and Driving Engagement

Serving as the Chair of the ASQ Inspection Division has been a remarkable journey of leadership, collaboration, and growth. It has been both a privilege and a responsibility to guide the division through strategic initiatives aimed at empowering our members and elevating the quality profession.




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Certification Exam Success From Thinking Slow Quickly

This article considers how quality professionals and practitioners can more effectively prepare for their certification exams which are proctored or supervised as they complete a selection of responses from multiple-choice questions.




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Total Quality Management: Paving the Road to Excellence

In our ever-changing world of global business, quality is a cornerstone of success. Organizations striving for excellence cannot afford to overlook Total Quality Management (TQM), a management philosophy centered on the continuous improvement of processes, products, and services through the involvement of all employees. 




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How to Level Up Your Quality Assurance with Inspection Software

Our company often gets asked how to choose quality inspection software and how to maximize its potential. Quality is crucial in manufacturing, and the right inspection software can be a game-changer. Our experts shed light on the benefits of choosing the right fit for your organization and maximizing its utility.




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Quality and Requirements: Get the Full Story

Quality starts with requirements. Conformance to requirements is important, but not enough. The quality of the requirements is equally critical. An effective quality management system ensures that requirements are not only present and up to date, but also adequate for creating quality.





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Building Quality into Digital-Twin-based Systems Utilizing the DTC Composability Framework

The Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) Composability Framework provides a transformative approach to digital twin system development, focusing on interoperability, security, trustworthiness, scalability, and design reuse to align with businesses’ objectives and evolving needs.




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The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Machine Learning in Modern Quality Management

We explore two critical applications of AI and ML in quality management: predictive quality analytics and automated quality inspections.




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How QMS Helps with Nonconformance Product Management

Manufacturers thrive in a competitive market by prioritizing customer needs: price, quality, and delivery. However, long-term success hinges on quality, which ensures products perform as expected from manufacturing through to post-sale. While price is influenced by costs and market dynamics, and delivery by productivity, quality is key to building trust and customer loyalty.





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

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.





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Is Your Total Cost of Quality Picture Complete?

This article shows how to make leadership aware of all costs and not just the tangible ones. It helps quality professionals to quantify the Total Cost of Quality and derive a compelling business case from that quantification.




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Conquering Logistics Challenges for Optimal Quality Output

Today’s manufacturing environment demands greater product variety, shorter lead times, and higher customer expectations. To meet these challenges, manufacturers need agile and efficient intralogistics solutions, specifically scalable, modular systems that adapt to production changes and optimize resources while ensuring high quality.




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The Impact of Electric Vehicles on Automotive Manufacturing: The Role of First-Time Quality, Digital Twins, and Dimensional Engineering

As electric vehicles (EVs) reshape the automotive industry, manufacturers are pressured to enhance processes and achieve first-time quality. The demand for sustainable transportation requires a rethink of production strategies, with a focus on establishing a one-piece flow—ensuring each unit moves through the line without interruptions. This efficiency is vital for meeting consumer expectations and setting industry benchmarks.






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Hitachi Completes Acquisition of MA micro automation of Germany

MA micro automation will be under operation of JR Automation.
The acquisition expands JR Automation's reach into global automation markets in medical, advanced battery and other fields.




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Topeka, KS, High School Unveils New 50,000-sq-ft STEAM/STEM Innovation Center

Students at Washburn Rural High School (WRHS) will benefit from a new state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance career and technical education.




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Ametek Acquires Virtek Vision International

Ametek, Inc. announced the acquisition of Virtek Vision International, a leading provider of advanced laser-based projection and inspection systems.





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Aquatic Ballet

Aquatic Ballet by Kitty Cantrell is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition of 1500 pcs




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8 Bit-Block Mickey Aqua

8 Bit-Block Mickey Aqua by Tennessee Loveless is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition of 95 pcs




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Cinqueterre Paper

Cinqueterre Paper by Kerry Hallam is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to pcs




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Cinqueterre Canvas

Cinqueterre Canvas by Kerry Hallam is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to pcs




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The Poet Remarque

The Poet Remarque by John Holyfield is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition to 195 pcs