Getting it Right the First Time

This article highlights that quality control at manufacturing companies take many forms. Basically, quality control implies that everyone involved in the manufacture of a product or part makes sure it can be easily manufactured and that after it has been made, it meets certain predetermined specifications. Other industries are following ISO standards and becoming certified to show potential customers that they maintain rigorous quality control standards. Companies interested in quality matters have a host of technologies to help them achieve their goals. Other technologies exist, such as JMP from SAS Institute in Cary, NC, which analyzes data from the shop floor in order to monitor performance. Numbers that do not fit set patterns might alert engineers to a manufacturing problem. The software links graphics, such as charts and graphs, with the statistical data so engineers can better conceptualize the statistics. Quality control is not only about inspecting products after they are produced. In fact, it often begins at the very first step in the manufacturing process—ensuring that design engineers have all the information they need to properly design a part, and making sure they are properly trained on any software they use while creating the design.