Industrial Engineering is System Efficiency Engineering. It is Machine Effort and Human Effort IE. 4 Million Page View Blog. 200,000+ visitors. (36,000+ pv, 25,500+ visitors in 2025.)------------------
Blog Provides Industrial Engineering Knowledge: Articles, Books, Case Studies, Course Pages and Materials, Lecture Notes, Project Reviews, Research Papers Study Materials, and Video Lectures. 2025 - New Project - Effective Industrial Engineering and Productivity Management.
Productivity Automation Engineering - Redesigning products or processes by incorporating automation to improve productivity.
"Automation is not only about installing expensive machines.
It is about changing mindset, upgrading skills, improving processes, and building acceptance across all levels of the organization.
The factories that successfully adopt automation are those where top management, Through R&D industrial engineering, production, maintenance, and operators work together as one team from the beginning.
Technology succeeds only when people are prepared to succeed with it."
Industrial Engineering - Role of Engineering, Mechanization and Automation
In process improvement study or projects, to do a task in the most productive manner, the most efficient manual method (best manual method), best mechanized method and best automation method are to be compared and the most productive method has to be employed. This comparison has to be done at element or suboperation level.
Source: Book: Motion and Time Study: Design and Measurement of Work, Ralph M. Barnes, 7th Edition, Chapter 18. Motion Study, Mechanization, and Automation.
Jidoka - Automation and Mechanization - Process Engineering and Industrial Engineering in Toyota Production System
Jidoka, a pillar of Toyota Production Systems advocates automation with human touch in all operations of a process to increase productivity of operators as well as that of total systems.
The world class manufacturing system developed by Toyota Motors (Toyota Production System now popular as Lean Manufacturing) is based on the pillar of Jidoka (Increase in Automation and Increase in Skills of Human Operators to produce quality output with high productivity).
McKinsey Global Institute Report - AUTOMATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND PRODUCTIVITY JANUARY 2017
Advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are ushering in a new age of automation. Automated machines match or outperform human performance in a range of work activities, including ones requiring cognitive capabilities.
Automation of activities is enabling businesses to improve performance, by reducing errors and improving quality and speed. In some cases, activities beyond human capabilities are being made possible by automated equipment and processes. Automation also contributes to productivity. It is supported by historical data. Theoretically also, capital (man-made equipment) is created when there is productivity to give return on the investment of time spent in creating the capital equipment. Capital equipment is bought on the expectation of productivity and cost reduction rationally. Even though we have to accept that many do take irrational decisions and also make overoptimistic projections. Based on the scenario modeling, MGI estimates that automation technologies now available could raise productivity growth globally by 0.8 to 1.4 percent annually in the future years.
Almost half the activities people are now doing and being paid around $16 trillion in wages in the global economy can be automated by adapting currently demonstrated technology, according to analysis of more than 2,000 work activities across 800 occupations. Only 5 percent of all occupations can be automated entirely using demonstrated technologies. But in about 60 percent of the occupations at least 30 percent of constituent activities could be automated. More occupations will have significant automation component.
Activities most susceptible to automation involve physical activities in highly structured and predictable
environments, as well as the collection and processing of data. In the United States, these activities make up 51 percent of activities in the economy accounting for almost $2.7 trillion in wages. They are most prevalent in manufacturing, accommodation and food service, and retail trade, and include some middle-skill jobs.
Technical and techno-economic factors will determine the pace and extent of automation. Continued technical progress is a key factor. Beyond technical feasibility, the cost of technology, competition with labor including skills and supply and demand dynamics, performance benefits including and beyond labor cost savings , will affect the pace and scope of automation. Our scenarios suggest that half of today’s work activities could be automated by 2055, but this could happen up to 20 years earlier or later
depending on the various factors, in addition to other wider economic conditions.
Social Factors: MGI analysis assumes that people displaced by automation will find other employment. The anticipated shift in the activities in the labor force is of a similar order of magnitude as the long-term shift away from agriculture and decreases in manufacturing share of employment in the United States, both of which were accompanied by the creation of new types of work not foreseen at the time. For business, the performance benefits of automation are relatively clear, but the issues are more complicated for policy-makers. They have to promote the productivity growth potential and put in place policies to encourage investment in automation to encourage continued progress and innovation. At the same time, they must evolve and innovate policies that help workers and institutions adapt to the impact on employment. This will likely include rethinking education and training, income support and safety nets, as well as transition support for those dislocated. Individuals in the workplace will need to engage more comprehensively with machines as part of their everyday activities, and acquire new skills that will be in demand in the new automation age.
Information, News and Case Studies on Automation Technology and Productivity Implementation
2024
Manufacturing Process Automation | Systems & Technologies
Averroes
Aug 21, 2024
Tesla’s implementation of robotic automation has significantly transformed their production process.
Advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing are enabling aerospace companies to produce more efficient and complex components.
The industrial automation market is projected to reach $277 billion by 2030, indicating substantial growth in manufacturing technology adoption.
Emerging technologies such as AI-driven quality control and collaborative robots are enhancing both efficiency and precision in manufacturing operations.
The competence center for your tire and wheel manufacture.
Sorting, palletizing and de-palletizing, Güdel solutions allow you to automate all post-vulcanization processes right up to the shipment..
Our modular system allows you to increase the level of automation according to your needs. Whether you need individual components, functional packages or turnkey solutions including Material Flow Control MFC, Warehouse Management WMS, conveyor technology, and prime care.
A new survey sheds light on the state of automation, the benefits that automation brings, and best practices for scaling automation technologies successfully.
Novák, P.; Vyskočil, J. Digitalized Automation Engineering of Industry 4.0 Production Systems and Their Tight Cooperation with Digital Twins. Processes 2022, 10, 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10020404
What Is Industrial Automation Engineering Technology?
April 13, 2022
Computer controlled, mechanical, and electrical engineering refers to the use of electronics, mechanics, and electrical systems inside or outside manufacturing in order to coordinate processes. Some computer controlled and mechanical processes are included in manufacturing processes.
San Antonio – Jan. 27, 2022– Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Global Machine Vision Growth Opportunities, finds that rising demand for automation across industries to enhance operations and productivity is driving the global machine vision market. The industry will likely garner $14.02 billion in revenue by 2025 from $10.28 billion in 2020, an uptick at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%.
Food Automation Market Worth $29.4 Billion by 2027
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 600 million people worldwide fall ill after eating contaminated food, and 4,20,000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years. Thus, increasing concerns regarding food safety and hygiene have fueled the usage of automation in the food & beverage industry to ensure hygiene levels.
Fine machining requires a great deal of intuition. That is why many companies still take care of grinding and polishing manually. However, this can quickly become a source of high costs and inconsistencies, especially in series production. Automation solutions deliver reproducible quality at all times.
Automation Engineering Productivity with Dushyant Acharya
10/10/2021
Discover how to increase software development productivity with development workflow, including test automation, infrastructure, and efficient product delivery.
How organizations can benefit from SAP Intelligent RPA (SAP iRPA).
Singapore Business Review’s Contributing Editor Simon Hyett, it was discussed how organizations can benefit from SAP Intelligent RPA (SAP iRPA).
Forming the panel of speakers are industry leaders from Cloud4C, an SAP service provider: Aseem Gupta, Head of SAP Business; Sunil KP, RPA Practice Head; and Hemant Rachh, GTM Lead, APJ & GC, Intelligent RPA; and Kamalakar Gunupati. VP – SAP Engineering, Automation, & Delivery. Cloud4C is a cloud- and platform-agnostic service provider with headquarters in India and with offices in 25 countries.
A whole productivity suite of software with one site license
More automation software, more productivity: Expert interview series, John Krajewski, Aveva
What’s better than HMI, SCADA, MES, historian, or cloud automation software? A whole productivity suite of software with one site license, says John Krajewski, vice president product management, Aveva, when discussing how manufacturing and industrial facility software increases competitiveness. See video.
TAKAMAZ has succeeded in making the XT-8MY 8-inch CNC lathe and the ROBO-QJC AIO16 manufactured by Matsumoto Machine collaborate with each other.
The XT-8MY, a space-saving, compound-machining lathe designed for ease of use, and the ROBO-QJC AIO16, a user-friendly robot that requires no complicated settings.
The synergy of the two enables construction of an automation system that greatly reduces the load on operators.
Productivity Benefit of Solimar Systems’ Chemistry PDF-Centric Solutions for a Printer.
The integration of Solimar’s Rubika® document re-engineering solution enabled Mele Printing to save nearly $60,000 a year through faster processing turnaround times, which led to increased productivity and reduced overall client project costs.
E-commerce warehouse productivity could improve up to 20% with greater automation: Prologis
Published Feb. 9, 2021
The use of automation in warehousing could help increase facility productivity — measured by revenue per square foot — by 10% to 20% in e-commerce real estate over the next three years, according to an estimate by Prologis. The model considers a "base" scenario that maintains a slight acceleration in automation and a "stretch" case that has adoption doubling.
How to double productivity in a calibration laboratory
With calibration management software
One of almost every laboratory’s performance metrics is tracking calibration throughput–how many assets can each individual calibrate throughout the day. The more assets properly calibrated during the workday, the more work a calibration lab can take on without needing to hire more individuals. By adding automation to your calibration laboratory with software, you’ll be able to see a notable increase in calibration throughput–up to 200%.
Automation technology has always been the way to improve industrial productivity. Now, Siemens Total Integrated Automation (TIA) is available to cover the entire value chain, both for industry and for mechanical engineers and plant manufacturers. The result of this unique end-to-end consistency is genuine added value.
The Total Integrated Automation Portal consists components - Controller, Human Machine Interface, Industrial PCs, Industrial Communication, Motion Control, CNC (Robots, ASRS systems, AGVs , 3D Printers included).
Embrace New Technology and Make Productivity a Long-term Goal
Rockwell Automation
A modernization strategy is about more than IT/OT convergence or equipment upgrades. It is about development of a roadmap that addresses all aspects of your operation. It is also about preparation for inevitable technology advances and business changes.
Consider some of the ways companies approach modernization to increase productivity:
Automotive companies use automated data systems to help boost OEE and productivity by 50%
Food and beverage companies use the Infrastructure-as-a-Service approach to reduce troubleshooting time by 90%
Oil and gas companies use real-time predictive analytics to spot potential failures and minimize downtime
Pharmaceutical companies improve process consistency to help increase production by 65%
We also modernized our manufacturing operations as part of our own connected enterprise journey, and integrated automation and information into a connected system. We used the latest MES and EMI software to bring information from hundreds of applications into one central location. Our productivity has increased since the new system was implemented. https://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/capabilities/connected-enterprise/overview.page?pagetitle=Productivity&docid=3e340592944cd47a9d126fe8192ea8c3
September, 12th 2018
EOS and Siemens intensify cooperation around industrial 3D printing
Successful strategic cooperation further expanded in the areas software, automation and drive technology and AM application.
An EOSPRINT driver for the Siemens NX™ 12 AM module allows the seamless integration of EOSPRINT 2 functions into Siemens’ NX™ AM Fixed Plane (Powder Bed) module software.
EOS, the world's leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers, and the global technology company Siemens continue their close collaboration to further accelerate additive manufacturing (AM) technology and application. Siemens control and drive components are part of the new EOS M 300 series for metal additive manufacturing https://www.eos.info/press/eos-and-siemens-intensify-cooperation-around-industrial-3d-printing
EU H2020 FAR-EDGE project
Industry 4.0 envisions the digitalization of the manufacturing sector. By means of smart devices and intelligent technologies for a distributed automation control, one of the main goals of the Industry 4.0 is to enhance flexibility and reconfigurability of the production systems. In this regard, the EU H2020 FAR-EDGE project intends to support industries in their digital transformation by providing them with an open platform for factory automation based on edge computing and cyber-physical systems. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8390795
2017
H2020 FAR-EDGE Project: Where Factory Automation meets Edge Computing and Blockchain Technology
Contact John Soldatos (Dr.) email available in the web site https://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/141621/en
Where does productivity engineering fit in software development?
Digitising the Industry - Internet of Things Connecting the Physical, Digital and Virtual Worlds
Peter Friess
River Publishers, 07-Jul-2016 - Computers - 364 pages
This book provides an overview of the current Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, ranging from the research, innovation and development priorities to enabling technologies in a global context. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nYktDwAAQBAJ
Numerous manufacturing throughput processes have been automated over the years in an effort to reduce delivery times. For a variety of reasons, however, quality control has remained a manual process in many industries despite inroads made by vision systems. The arrival of automated quality check tools could change that.
MGI Event: Experts discuss global productivity trends
McKinsey & Company
28 Nov 2024
The sluggishness of global productivity growth has been a puzzle for more than a decade. Amid a drastic shift in inflation, interest rates, and global competitiveness, solving it has become increasingly urgent. Today, the world needs productivity growth more than ever, as substantial challenges lie ahead. To explore this, MGI hosted a virtual event on the new report, Investing in productivity growth
Effective. Efficient. Engineered Solutions
We Exceed Customer Expectations in Quality, Delivery and Service building long term relationships based on Customer Satisfaction Index.
End-End Program Management
Faster Time to Market
Reduced BoM Costs
Cost Effective Engineering
Putting Complex Product together http://embedded360.com/
Test Engineering | Electronic Design Test Engineering
Test Engineering is one of the most important tasks in production. In this stage, all electronic boards are tested to verify that the product is free of any error. Testing usually has two stages: 1. The In-Circuit-Test (ICT) checks the components and the inter-connections of the parts on a PCB. With the ICT we can detect many problems, such as poor soldering, cold solder or solder bridge, improper component value, broken parts and similar connectivity problems.
Second stage of testing - the Functional Test. 2. The Functional Test is a complex test that is designed specifically for one particular product and will check the features and functionality of that product. By performing the functional test the chance of an error is reduced to a minimum! We consider testability in our design right from the first day. Because of the experience and skills of our engineering staff, we are able to reduce the time spent in the test engineering section, especially with high quantity production. This is critical because each minute of delay in test engineering means a delay in getting the product out of the factory and to the client! As well, we can design test facilities on board, like test pads, connectors and test interfaces. Discuss your requirements to incorporate all of them into the final board layout. https://arshon.com/test-engineering
Value Engineering of PCB Cloning
Value Engineering objective
A value engineering (VE) review of PCB Cloning candidates may reveal cost drivers over and beyond the sole source restrictions. Some probable high cost drivers are: excessive material requirements such as the capacitor, resistor, inductor and integrated circuits, PCB layout drawing defects, over design, functional redundancy, tolerance restrictions, excessive performance requirements, etc. http://www.circuitwork.tech/value-engineering-of-pcb-cloning/
Orbotech Releases Precise 800 Automated Optical Shaping 3D Solution for PCB Manufacturers
May 22, 2016
The new technology should attract the attention of PCB manufacturers as it’s capable of removing excess copper as well as filling in the areas where it is missing. These features are significant as it means the ‘shaping solution’ is eliminating scrap and offering substantial savings on the bottom line with a rapid recoup regarding the initial investment. https://3dprint.com/135037/orbotech-precise-800-aos/
Selecting PCB Materials for High-Frequency
Applications
By John Coonrod, Rogers Corporation, Advanced Circuit Materials Division
March/April 2012
Microwave Engineering europe
Horng-Hai Loh, Ming-Sing Lu, "Printed circuit board inspection using image analysis", Industrial Automation and Control: Emerging Technologies 1995. International IEEE/IAS Conference on, pp. 673-677, 1995.
Abstract:
This paper presents an inspection system for the defects on surface mounted device (SMD) printed circuit boards (PCBs). There are five types of defects, namely, missing component, misalignment, wrong orientation of IC chip, wrong parts and poor solder joints. Different algorithms are developed to detect these faults. Vision system has been introduced into almost every level of PCB manufacturing. They include PCB pattern inspection machines, SMD mounter with visual positioning, mounted SMD visual inspection machines, soldering inspection machines, assembled PCB visual inspection machines etc. Most of these vision systems achieve significant benefits. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/527640/
Manufacturing cost estimation for PCB assembly: An activity-based approach
Vision systems for PCB manufacturing in Japan
S. Hata
Abstract: Current vision systems in Japanese printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing lines are described. Vision systems have been introduced into almost every level of PCB manufacturing in Japan. They include mask pattern inspection machines, PCB pattern inspection machines, surface-mount device (SMD) mounters with visual positioning, mounted SMD visual inspection machines, soldering inspection machines, and assembled PCB visual inspection machines. Most of these vision systems were integrated successfully and achieved significant benefits.
Published in: [Proceedings] IECON '90: 16th Annual Conference of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society
Date of Conference: 27-30 Nov. 1990 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/149241/
Updated on 2.11.2025, 4.12.2021, 27.12.2020, 5 December 2019, 22 August 2018
Focus on Quality Essential for Industrial Engineers
F.W. Taylor: It is to be ensured that no quality deterioration takes place due to increasing productivity by increasing speed of machines or that of operators. Inspection system has to be put in place first to prove that there is no quality deterioration due to productivity improvement interventions or attempts and redesign of processes.
Hence, industrial engineers have to document the quality level of each and every element of the process (step of the process) in the process chart. After implementing the process also, they have to record the quality data on the new process chart and thus should not give any chance for any person to say that quality has deteriorated due to productivity improvement.
Juran: “Just as the twentieth century was the century of productivity, the twenty-first century will be the quality century.”
Reimann (1992a), Director for Quality Programs, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, in testimony to the U.S. Congress: “There is now far clearer perception that quality is central to company competitiveness and to national competitiveness.”
Inspection during processing and after processing are done to ensure that the parts or products are as per the specification. Customer also inspects before using. Inspection is an important operation in production and service activities.
Inspection is included as one of the five operations included in the ASME process chart for evaluating and improving it to increase productivity. Inspection operation has to be improved and its work station has to be improved. The handling the component is to be improved.
While the inspection procedure employed in this operation is analyzed for improvement, it is necessary to evaluate the self inspection done by the operator. The inspection done by the operator is at the input side as well at the output side. It is related to the material and it extends to tools, gauges and set up also.
In the case of transport operation, we always think of layout improvement at the plant level. Similarly, in case of inspection, we need to think of the quality management system and practices of the company. Improvement at the company level quality management practices, can be have a big effect on the productivity of inspection operations.
Read for more details on Taylor's focus on quality:
Industrial engineers have to regularly get news regarding engineering and technology developments and assess their utility for productivity/performance improvement of processes in their organization.
Where utility is there, they have to do detailed investigation and incorporate the new technology element in their process and increase the performance. This is continuous engineering improvement of the process and is the responsibility of the industrial engineer. When the engineering change is carried out the design group will get acquainted with the new technology elements and will take steps to use it appropriately in their new design and major redesign projects. Engineering - Industrial Engineering is a cumulative process. Each contributing their share in the design of products and processes and the knowledge is cumulated.
Modular gauging and holding fixtures with 3D-printed locators make the Coordinate Measuring Machine sequence faster and more reliable.
AUG 13, 2020
The patented products are being supplied by Rapidfit. Gage fixtures are for inspecting automotive components after manufacturing. Holding fixtures support components as they are built into a vehicle and measured using CMMs or other metrology equipment.
The specification of tolerances or the standards of quality, accuracy, finish, and so on, that the operation must satisfy play an important part in the methods used to produce the part. In fact, in many cases, the requirements fix the method. The accuracy with which the diameter of a small shaft must be machined and the finish which the machined surface must possess will determine the machines that must be used, the number of cuts taken, and the feeds and speeds.
Hence, at the outset of any process/operation/methods study, it is important, first, that the tolerance requirements of the operation be known and, second, that these requirements be reviewed for correctness. The assumptions are made that the operator is doing a job which will pass inspection and that the requirements as specified by the designer or the chief inspector are correct. Undoubtedly these assumptions are true in the majority of industrial operations, but enough important exceptions are encountered to make an analysis of tolerance and inspection requirements a point of primary importance.
Questions.
The following questions should be raised and, as always, answered only after careful consideration:
1. What are the inspection requirements of this operation?
2. What are the requirements of the preceding operation?
3. What are the requirements of the following operation?
4. Will changing the requirements of a previous operation make this operation easier to perform?
5. Will changing the requirement of this operation make a subsequent operation easier to perform?
6. Are tolerance, allowance, finish, and other requirements necessary?
7. Are they suitable for the purpose the part has to play in the finished product ?
8. Can the requirements be raised to improve quality without increasing cost?
9. Will lowering the requirements materially reduce costs?
10. Can the quality of the finished product be improved in any way even beyond present requirements?
Relation of Methods Efficiency Study to Quality.
Methods efficiency studies are made primarily for the purpose of eliminating waste and reducing costs. In so doing, however, it goes without saying that nothing should be done to impair the quality of the finished product or its salability. Because the methods efficiency engineer is interested in enhancing the competitive position of his company's products, he quite naturally must take a keen interest in the factor of quality. Products of superior quality outsell products of inferior quality, other things being equal; hence, an improvement in quality is always desirable, provided, of course, that it is necessary and useful quality. Any improvement that betters the functioning, appearance, or salability of the product should be constantly sought. Unnecessary quality, however, refinements that add to the cost of the product without in any way improving it, should be eliminated.
Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether a certain requirement is an unnecessary refinement or a desirable improver of quality. Such questions can be answered only after a thorough discussion of all of the factors involved. In general, however, because of the competitive condition existing in industry, any suggested improvement in quality that can be made without taking the product out of its price class should be adopted.
The methods efficiency engineer is in a good position to make suggestions that will improve quality. Because he studies a product in detail and considers thoroughly every factor connected with it, he is quite likely to discover ways of making the product better. In addition, because he eventually sets up working methods that are easy, efficient methods, and because he trains all operators to follow those methods, a higher and more uniform quality of workmanship results than where each operator is left to develop methods for himself. As a result, therefore, methods study tends to raise the quality of the finished product.
Results of Analyzing Inspection Requirements.
For machine work, the limits of accuracy within which the part must be machined are customarily specified on the drawing of the part. These allowances are worked out by the design engineers and are based upon the function the part is to play in the finished product and the relation of the dimensions of the part to the dimensions of the other parts with which it is used. Theoretically, the allowances established by the design engineers should be correct; but because the human element enters in here as elsewhere, they should be carefully checked by the analyst.
Close tolerances raise the cost of a machining operation by making it necessary for the operator to work accurately, checking his work frequently. More cuts are necessary if dimensions must be held accurately, and perhaps even additional operations on other machines. There is a tendency for designers to specify increasingly close tolerances, a tendency that many shopmen deplore. However, the performance requirements of many products are becoming daily more exacting, and as a result accuracy requirements are likely to become increasingly severe. Machine shops, therefore, must face this problem and learn how to work more and more accurately. That this objective can be attained is evidenced by the remarkable advances being made almost daily in the automotive and aviation industries.
When tolerances are carefully reviewed, some may be found that appear to be unnecessarily close for the function of the part hi the finished apparatus. Such cases should be presented to the engineers with a statement of the amount that may be saved by allowing greater leeway. If the tolerance really is too close and a worth-while saving will be made by increasing it, the change will in all probability be made.
It will aid materially in getting such changes made if charts showing tolerance and related cost are available for different classes of operations. Such charts serve to emphasize clearly how much costs are increased as tolerances are decreased. They can also be of value to design engineers, for reference purposes.
Occasionally, tolerances are not close enough. Sometimes, by tightening the requirements on a machining operation, the assembly is made easier, and the amount spent on the extra machine work is offset or more than offset by the saving made on the assembly floor. In standardized manufacture, fitting during assembly has been practically eliminated. Parts are machined so that they go together without filing, bending, or adjusting. The same condition is desirable in small-quantity production where much fitting is commonly done, and it can often be approached by tightening the accuracy requirements on the principal parts.
When a product is made to sell for a price, as, for example, a certain grade of shoe, the matter of allowed quality becomes extremely important. It is possible to add operations almost indefinitely that will improve quality, but the added cost will take the finished shoe out of its price range. Hence, it becomes necessary to determine what can be done for the amount of money available. In a situation of this kind, labor effectiveness is of paramount importance. The more effectively operations are performed, the more operations can be done. The more operations, the better the quality, and, hence, the better the competitive position of the shoe.
Questions - Maynard
1. If accurate work is necessary, are proper gages or other measuring instruments provided?
2. Are gages or other measuring instruments checked for accuracy from time to time?
LS-C-5.8 laser scanning solution for non-contact surface inspection on the machine tool. It is an easy-to-use, contactless solution for capturing surface measurement data quickly and directly on the production line.
New ultrasonic touch probe for fully automated thickness measurement, the RWP20.50-G-UTP, which integrates directly with a machine tool.
Measuring thickness often requires an elaborate manual setup, which includes the installation of external, manual ultrasonic measuring instruments. Hexagon’s RWP20.50-G-UTP ultrasonic touch probe automates and simplifies the procedure, as part of the machine tool installation, just like a regular touch probe.
Preventive Inspection
Shigeo Shingo highlights the concept of preventive inspection. The manufacturing process must have preventive inspection operations to prevent defects from occurring in the process of manufacturing.
The inspection occurring at the end of completion of the process may prevent the defective part from getting despatched or sent to the customer. But eliminating defects during the process has to be the first aim and it can be achieved only by inserting process defect preventing inspection operations in the process as part of process design and redesign.
Inspection Operations Industrial Engineering
Inspection operations and processes are studied and redesigned to improve productivity or reduce costs under the focus of industrial engineering: Process Industrial Engineering
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Quality - Inspection System Industrial Engineering
Quality system industrial engineering is the study of resource use in various quality, inspection engineering and management activities with a view to increasing the efficiency or eliminating the waste wherever possible. While the quality activities are carried out to ensure that product designs and process designs produce products and services that meet the needs of the targeted customers and delight them by giving more, there is possibility of excessive use of organization's resources. Industrial engineering is concerned with the management of resource use and in this function, the quality system design is carefully investigated by the industrial engineering to identify and remove waste. Industrial engineering succeeded in reducing the cost of many processes designed in the first iteration by the managers up to 50% and hence it is a very important activity in systems design or systems engineering.
Famous example of industrial engineering, is Henry Ford's production system redesign, that reduced the price of the automobile by half. Frederick Taylor, the founder of IE discipline has improved the productivity of some of the inspection processes.
System Industrial Engineering - System Efficiency Engineering
Machine Effort Industrial Engineering - Human Effort Industrial Engineering
Quality related activities are undertaken by marketing professions, product design professionals, process design professions, production persons, inspection persons in the case of products or services marketing by an organization. Apart from the various activities done by the company also need to have quality and hence all the persons in the organization are connected to quality. Statisticians contributed to quality field. Statistical quality control helped in increasing the efficiency of quality system by reducing inspection effort. Industrial engineers promoted SQC as a part of quality system industrial engineering.
To do industrial engineering of inspection methods to reduce the cost of inspection operation or cost, a redesign of the operation or process has to be done. To redesign the engineering elements, industrial engineers have to know the engineering alternatives in terms of different inspection methods, equipment and tools like gauges etc.
In the evolving Industry 4.0 environment, inspection systems industrial engineering has to follow the applied industrial engineering steps framework created by Narayana Rao (2018).
The first IE analysis of any new technology is engineering economic analysis. The investment outlay, operating cost and operating revenues are to be estimated for the new technology by industrial engineers. Based on the estimates of these cash flows, return on investment can be calculated. If ROI is positive, industrial engineers can immediately inform management as well as their colleagues about the opportunity to adopt the new technology as early as possible to derive the benefit (ROI) from it.
Smart Inspection - Inspection Developments in Industry 4.0 Engineering/Production Environment
Smart Inspection prevents Downtime Inspection across a production line also plays a key role in effective quality control. Our systems combine sensors like vision systems with smart data to ensure any issues have minimal impact on the line. http://blog.omron.eu/smart-inspection-prevents-downtime/
Inspection in the age of smart manufacturing Written by: Tom Austin-Morgan | Published: 05 November 2018 Metrology is often an overlooked process in manufacturing, when it actually plays an essential role. In particular, inspection helps ensure that component parts fit together accurately and ensures that final products work and operate safely. Even for relatively simple manufactured products, there is more to inspection than meets the eye. http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/design-engineering-features/technology/inspection-in-the-age-of-smart-manufacturing/192747/
NOVEMBER 2, 2017 Epicor Introduces ‘Smart Inspection’ Tool Innovative mobile “Smart Inspection” tool that guides automotive service professionals through detailed vehicle inspections and generates custom-branded inspection reports that can be delivered to the customer. https://www.tirereview.com/epicor-introduces-smart-inspection-tool/
G. R. Tang and M. Jiang, "Analysis and Research on Inspection Methods of Drilling Holes in Power Transmission Line Foundation", Applied Mechanics and Materials, Vols. 799-800, pp. 1268-1271, 2015 https://www.scientific.net/AMM.799-800.1268
Method for optical inspection of nanoscale objects based upon analysis of their defocused images and features of its practical implementation M.V. Ryabko, S.N. Koptyaev, A.V. Shcherbakov, A.D. Lantsov, and S.Y. Oh Optics Express Vol. 21, Issue 21, pp. 24483-24489 (2013) https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-21-21-24483
2002 Modern Methods for Quality Control and Improvement Harrison M. Wadsworth, Kenneth S. Stephens, A. Blanton Godfrey John Wiley & Sons, 2002 - Quality control - 683 pages
This is a revision of a classic! This text provides a single source for information on both the structure and management of quality systems and the use of statistics to control and improve quality. It incorporates an international flavor and a good balance of services and manufacturing coverage. The goal of the second edition remains the same as the first edition - to promote learning by means of practical, effective applications intended to develop, control, and improve quality systems and processes http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PjdUqegFUewC
Poka-Yoke is a term being used to describe the devices installed in the process or operation to highlight the likely defect and prevent it.
For Zero defects, Shigeo Shingo came up with an industrial engineering solution. Industrial engineering needs efficiency sense and focus. They have to use engineering knowledge to improve the efficiency of engineering systems and reduce costs. The solution proposed by Shingo for zero defect production is Poka-Yoke. The features built into the machine and associated devices that prevent defects from happening. The features inform the operator that a mistake has happened and provide him an opportunity to correct the mistake.
Familiar examples of Poka Yoke
1) Warning about missing attachment file you get while composing email using Gmail.
2) Websites showing password strength indicator to show password strength. So weak passwords are avoided.
3) Google search engine feature to auto-suggest spelling corrections for user search query. This helps uses to avoid making inadvertent mistakes during search.
Bibliography
‘POKA YOKE’ OR QUALITY BY MISTAKE PROOFING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS
Iris D. Tommelein Director, Project Production Systems Laboratory, http://p2sl.berkeley.edu/, and Professor, Engineering and Project Management Program, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, 215-A McLaughlin Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1712,
Shigeo Shingo, Productivity Press Development Team Productivity Press, 01-Jan-1997 - Business & Economics - 80 pages
The Zero Quality Control System (ZQC) is a mistake-proofing approach that prevents defects by monitoring processing conditions at the source and correcting errors that cause defects. Since it is human nature to make mistakes, ZQC does not blame people for errors, but instead finds ways to keep errors from becoming defects. In this breakthrough approach, mistake-proofing devices called poka-yoke are used to check and give feedback about each product or operation in the process, not just a sample. This book introduces operators and assembly workers to the basic methodology of ZQC in an easy-to-read format that covers all aspects of this important manufacturing improvement strategy.
Mistake-Proofing for Operators includes the instructional features that are the signature of the Shopfloor Series. In this series Productivity Press has taken the lead in adult education by teaming with instructional designers to develop complete programs for frontline learning. The goal: to place powerful and proven improvement tools such as ZQC and mistake-proofing in the hands of your company's entire workforce.
Winner of the 1990 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, Mistake-Proofing for Operators is based on Zero Quality Control: Source Inspection and the Poka-Yoke System by Shigeo Shingo
If your goal is 100% zero defects, here is the book for you — a completely illustrated guide to poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) for supervisors and shop-floor workers. Many poka-yoke ideas come from line workers and are implemented with the help of engineering staff or tooling or machine specialists. The result is better product quality and greater participation by workers in efforts to improve your processes, your products, and your company as a whole.
The first section of the book uses a simple, illustrated format to summarize many of the concepts and main features of poka-yoke. The second section shows 240 examples of poka-yoke improvements implemented in Japanese plants.
The book:
Organizes examples according to the broad issue or problem they address. Pinpoints how poka-yoke applies to specific devices, parts and products, categories of improvement methods, and processes. Provides sample improvement forms for you to sketch out your own ideas. Use Poka-yoke in study groups as a model for your improvement efforts. It may be your single most important step toward eliminating defects completely. (For an industrial engineering perspective on how source inspection and poka-yoke can work together to reduce defects to zero, see Shigeo Shingo's Zero Quality Control.) http://books.google.co.in/books?id=hR_8Ulz6d_oC
Case Studies - Examples
Mistake Proofing, Poka-Yoke Style. - 11/05/2018 mobile cart with poka-yoke
Five parts are to be picked on put on the cart. The design makes sure the associate puts the correct part on the car. This cart is wireless and speaks directly if the incorrect part is picked, or if the part is missed completely and the cart is moved. https://www.bmwusfactory.com/team10_articles/mistake-proofing-poka-yoke-style/
A few planners, managers, or engineers are planning all the steps of every process, defining carefully worded job descriptions, and enforcing the unthinking following of instructions. (P.14.7)
Manufacturing process design is not adequately described in Operations Management textbooks. In industrial engineering books also it is not described so far.
Developing the article: Manufacturing Process Design.
Please share useful case studies, articles or papers. Give reference. I want to use and include in the bibliography.