When you’re in the middle of a conflict, it’s common to automatically enter a “fight or flight” mentality, but it’s possible to interrupt this response and clear a path towards a more productive discussion.

Color is a critical part of any product. It’s the first thing your customer sees. Whether you are manufacturing components for assembly or finished assembled goods, the color has to be right every time or you risk scrapping, reworking, or discounting the product. This impacts your bottom line.

Within the opening moments of a job interview, your first impression is made. Controlling that impression is often a matter of personal style. Let's talk about that one question we ask ourselves everyday: What am I going to wear? This question is never more important than it is on the day of a job interview. Yes, yes — your personality and skills matter, too. However, if we're talking about ...

Earlier this year, AIAG released updated APQP and Control Plan reference guides, available at www.aiag.org. This release includes the stand-alone control plan document for completing control plans.

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.

For automation-focused companies, Autonomous Process Control (APC) isn’t just a tech advancement—it’s essential for achieving six sigma quality and boosting yields and profitability.

Time series analysis enables manufacturers to track quality data, revealing patterns, trends, and anomalies to maintain consistent production standards. This method can be applied to daily production output or hourly quality measurements.

The official definition of the word “control” is: to exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; or to adjust to a requirement.

Learn how design controls can help quality managers assess medical devices.

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.

Reverse engineering is the process of taking apart a product to understand its design and functionality. This knowledge is helpful for creating similar products or improving existing designs.

AI is revolutionizing quality control in manufacturing, driving us into Industry 4.0 and beyond. Manufacturers can streamline processes, boost efficiency, and deliver top-notch products globally. Embracing AI isn't just advantageous; it's essential for thriving in today's economy. Businesses must invest in AI to empower their workforce and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape.

Quality managing editor Michelle Bangert talked with Justin Newell, CEO of Inform North America, who recently wrote an article for Quality on trustworthy AI.

In a world where AI vision technology is setting new quality control standards across industries, machines can now detect even the smallest defects in car parts and ensure that every packaged product meets health standards.

The growing use of AI in manufacturing has revolutionized quality control. Traditional inspection methods struggle to keep pace with complex production processes, but AI augments accuracy and efficiency, upholding high-quality standards.

Manufacturers focus on reducing their operating costs, but cannot afford buying more productive machinery.

In manufacturing, the slightest deviation can have significant repercussions. This guide presents solutions, in the form of best practices, that will help quality and production managers solve their productivity issues and implement near-line and in-line automated dimensional inspections.

The latest generation of scanCONTROL 30xx laser scanners is extremely powerful, precise and individually adaptable.  

High temperatures in industrial settings are a leading cause of downtime. Controlling units and microprocessors age quickly under heat pressure, which means that generated heat must be removed efficiently or heat damage will occur.

Discover the secrets behind X-ray CT system design and learn how rapid scanning can revolutionize production quality control. Uncover hidden internal voids, inclusions, and defects in molded and die-casted products—all without a single destructive test.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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.

Instead of telling people what to do, learn how to guide them to the best decisions. Read a preview and listen to the full podcast with Lisa Weis, President of EngageExcellence, LLC, who has taught a course on this subject many times and says it can change the way you lead, work, and parent.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) is evolving to not just detect defects, but also to predict and prevent issues. Modern factories use more sensors and collect more data, allowing SPC to analyze real-time patterns and forecast potential issues.

Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) play a crucial role in verifying the dimensions of manufactured parts with precision control. CMM controllers are central to coordinating movements and processing data, driving technological advancements in the metrology industry.

Dr. Joaquin Carrasco, Professor of Control Systems at the University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has taught various Control Systems courses to Master’s students in the Master of Science in Advanced Control and Systems Engineering program for the past six years. He has received overwhelmingly positive student feedback from using Maple T.A., the powerful online testing and assessment system from Maplesoft, in his Control Systems classes. He has also recently incorporated Maplesoft’s MapleSim and the MapleSim CAD Toolbox into his Robotics courses. With the MapleSim CAD Toolbox, students can see how their mechanical CAD models behave as part of a larger, multidomain system.

The U.S. government recently released four rulemakings on space export control designed to strengthen private sector space activity and improve international collaboration. The Department of Commerce and Department of State released four space export control […]

Sweden’s Saab pitched a new autonomous control system to be used for naval vessels during the Euronaval expo in Paris this month. The company said this new system, Autonomous Ocean […]

The Navy tested command and control of an unmanned aircraft using its Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS) for the first time this week in a demo using the  […]

This control switches electrical loads from relays, fans and motors in HVAC and commercial applications in response to changes in refrigerant pressure.

The unique valve design of V-traps makes them virtually trouble free. They are self-priming; you never have to add water to make them work. A self-sealing column of water, equal in height to the negative pressure in the air conditioner, automatically prevents air from entering the drain trap allowing the condensate to drain freely.

The new PRO-Cell™ Upgrade Assembly magnifies the power of purification when added to any Field Controls UV-16. These models can be upgraded with the addition of a PCUV-16UA, boosting their UVC germicidal performance.

The intelligent valve OptiPoint™ is a customized Belimo ZoneTight™ valve with enhanced MP-Bus communication.

This upgraded version of its AmurAct is designed for 1.5 million cycles and can withstand ambient temperatures up to 140°F.

Controlling the head pressure helps maintain pressure drop across the metering device and prevents the evaporator from freezing, in the case of air conditioning, and excessive freezing in refrigeration systems.

“This campus has been designed to create a culture of collaboration and sustainability with our OpenBlue digital platform at the core of its design,” said Vijay Sankaran, chief technology officer at Johnson Controls.

JCI has hired an executive search firm to help evaluate both internal and external candidates in an effort to find a replacement for its current CEO, who has announced his plans to retire from that position.

Record heat waves are driving up energy costs, but what can the HVAC industry do to mitigate some of those expenses?

Humidity control makes up an important facet of indoor air quality, a facet that includes reducing airborne viruses but extends far beyond it.

The manufacturers of HVAC products for indoor farming say their equipment can help optimize growers’ crop yields.

With Zonefirst's Internet of Zoning (IoZ) technology, the Bliss system enables homeowners to manage both lighting and temperature settings through an app.

The Access Control System for the Geniox units allows operators to optimize ventilation performance, helping them to create a healthy and comfortable indoor climate. 

Field Controls released the FlexFilter MERV 13, an addition to its line of adaptable air filters. 

The s-MEXT indoor unit, a Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) unit for I.T. cooling applications, includes uses such as small-to-medium- sized data rooms, cell phone and cable TV/telephone/internet provider relay stations, medical imaging equipment cooling and critical cooling infrastructure applications, laboratories, archives and libraries. 

Through the acquisition, RCP aims to “take the No. 1 position in zoning.”