Quality Magazine

Keeping defects low and reducing scrap is not an easy task. But Spectrum Custom Packaging made it happen. Meet Quality's 2025 Plant of the Year.

ERP systems have evolved to integrate key business functions and remain relevant, but their complex implementation requires effective planning for success.

The gaging setting standard is essential for accurate measurements in high-performance manufacturing, despite often being overlooked. While digital calipers are versatile, they lack the precision of comparative gages that rely on a master-setting standard for sub-micron accuracy. Proper use of this standard can enhance performance and lower calibration costs.

TRIZ, or Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, is a methodology developed by Genrich Altshuller in the mid-20th century to creatively solve engineering and technical problems. It posits that innovation follows predictable patterns, utilizing tools derived from the study of patents.

Hardness testing is essential in material sciences, particularly through hardness mapping, which generates detailed heat maps from thousands of indentations. Enhanced by AI-based evaluation, this method improves accuracy and is widely used in industries like automotive and aerospace. The article discusses the methods and future of AI-driven hardness testing.

Auditing is a journey that demands a positive attitude, effective planning, and clear goals. Auditors require essential skills to achieve the audit objective, ultimately delivering value by identifying findings that save time and money. While preparation can be challenging, knowing key strategies for successful auditing can make a big difference.

Consider two fields of science, having at the first look, no relation with metrology: Architecture-Archeology and Psychology.

With the 2026 version of the ISO 9001 on the horizon, organizations must ask: will more training be needed? This article explores the key processes to ensure effective management of the upcoming changes, helping teams stay prepared for the challenges ahead.

Evaluating your organization’s vulnerability to cyberattacks is essential, especially regarding ISO27001 requirements. Many overlook IT security, which can lead to serious issues; I’ve witnessed two organizations attacked, one during a renewal audit, emphasizing the need for strong cybersecurity.

While enjoying my Cheerios, I encountered a hard piece of plastic, dubbed a "quality escape." I reported this to General Mills, hoping for a thorough investigation, but received only a generic response with a coupon. I was left disappointed that my feedback didn’t prompt serious quality control actions.

Last month we introduced you to the newest member of the Quality staff. This month, we bid a fond farewell to a long-standing member of Quality and the quality industry.

My career in employee involvement initiatives has shown me that while top management commitment is essential for successful quality programs, gaining middle management buy-in is equally important for translating that commitment into action.

Offshoring has led to U.S. job losses, factory closures, and weakened competitiveness, highlighting the need to revitalize manufacturing.

Machine vision is transforming modern manufacturing. Innovations like event-based imaging and AI-driven tools are revolutionizing quality assurance and efficiency. This article examines key trends, highlighting breakthroughs in imaging, industrial streaming cameras, area scan sensors, and intelligent software that set new standards for precision and performance.

Explore the role of industrial Ethernet switches in machine vision applications, highlighting key factors for selecting a switch that meets the high bandwidth and data rate demands and our focus is on GigE Vision cameras, the most commonly used protocol in industrial networks and machine vision today.

As technology advances, a key debate centers on AI versus the human eye in inspection. Both manufacturing and medical sectors are questioning whether AI surpasses human vision or if the human eye still holds an undeniable advantage.

Manufacturers are turning to automation amid a labor shortage, with 67% of U.S. companies unable to attract talent and 622,000 job openings as of January 2024. In Europe, 75% of employers face similar challenges. The push for reshoring and tariffs intensifies the demand for automation.