How do you guarantee accuracy without sacrificing speed?

Outsourcing is one of those strategies that has infinite potential for both advantages as well as disadvantages. An additional location for production would instinctively seem to slow down the production process, yet especially smaller businesses or start-ups may need all the help they can get. Today we’ll discuss how measurement bottlenecks can be removed as a way of streamlining production.

Key highlights:

• External factors are difficult to control
• Bottlenecks within the factory can be removed
• Investing in equipment is costly and requires training
• Outsourcing to experts guarantees accuracy and relieves pressure

Bottlenecks can happen anywhere along the way in the production process and can prove to be catastrophic in cost. For example, when the Ever Given crashed and blocked the Suez Canal in 2021, it held up nearly $60 billion USD in trade. Of course this was not something that could have been foreseen by any of the ships waiting to carry goods through the canal. Interruptions outside the factory can be hard to control or predict, but there are things that can be done within the factory to streamline the process. Kevin Hall, applications engineer for The Sempre Group, explored how measurement is a common obstacle that creates production bottlenecks, and how it can be overcome.

 In an ever more demanding market, it’s important for manufacturers to remain competitive and meet customer demand for shorter delivery times. This involves increasing productivity and efficiency, without losing out on accuracy and quality. More often than not, more advanced manufacturing equipment means that the speed of production increases as well.

Investing in machinery or tools

Once production of a component is finished, however, it will still need to be checked. Whether it’s as part of First Article Inspection (FAI), or whether it’s a routine check during production, accuracy and speed are paramount. If a company only has one coordinate measuring machine (CMM), or measurements have to be taken by hand using tools such as micrometers, this can significantly delay the journey to the market. Although a micrometer may be cheaper than a CMM, measuring by hand of course also introduces the risk of human error.

Investing in the measuring equipment that’s needed to check the critical-to-quality (CTQ) dimensions may seem like the obvious choice. However, besides the fact that CMMs are costly investments, it’s not as straightforward as simply buying a new machine and reading the manual. To ensure proper, efficient and accurate use, the manufacturer would also have to invest in extensive training. Therefore, especially smaller manufacturers may find that it’s not cost effective or practical to invest in specialised machinery. It can also be challenging to determine what machine would be best suited for specific components. Instead, they could look at sub-contracting measurement services.

Hiring a specialist

By hiring a metrology specialist, you eliminate a learning period for your manufacturing staff. You can be sure that the parts are being measured accurately, without it taking up time or physical space at the manufacturing site. Metrology engineers will use the information in drawings and CAD files to determine the method of measurements and which machines to use. For complex parts, companies such as The Sempre Group can even develop bespoke fixtures to securely hold the components for measuring. Once the customer agrees to the quote, engineers will measure a small batch of parts, sending reports back to the customer to verify they have met expectations. Once verified, engineers will measure the rest of the parts, deliver reports and send the parts back.

Conclusion

Whether it’s just busy on the road to work, or a ship has blocked the Suez Canal, external factors are almost impossible to control. However, manufacturers can take action to remove unnecessary bottlenecks from within the factory. Investing in new machinery that requires training is not always the most efficient way to streamline the process. Instead, outsourcing measurement to dedicated experts can help relieve pressure and speed up production with the assurance of accuracy.