There is significant emphasis on using cutting-edge technology for industrial applications acquiring new equipment and sophisticated software often gets the lion’s share of operational funding. In contrast, industrial metrology, a crucial science just as important as the technologies a company acquires, is often overlooked. It’s a mistake that can lead to inefficiencies, declines in production quality, and risks of non-compliance.
Any company that aims for growth will do well to prioritize industrial metrology and recognize it as an essential part of its operations. After all, metrology benefits a wide range of industries, not just industrial manufacturing. It is also crucial to healthcare, aerospace, pharmaceutical manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, consumer goods production, logistics, packaging construction, and more.
This article discusses the four primary benefits of industrial metrology to demonstrate its importance and significance in various industries.
Increased Precision in Production
Precision is not just a goal in manufacturing industries but the bedrock on which successful products are built. A lack of precision can cause a product line to fail because precision is closely tied to quality. Since industrial metrology primarily ensures precision in the production process and achieving the correct physical specifications for the finished products, it plays a pivotal role in guaranteeing precision in production.
Here’s how industrial metrology improves and ensures precision:
- Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC): QA refers to processes and procedures ensuring products and services meet specifications and customer expectations. It focuses on the production process and ensuring they are up to standards. QC, on the other hand, focuses on the finished product. It checks whether a batch of products meets the ideal quality standards and will satisfy customer expectations.
- Compliance: The accuracy and efficiency of QA and QC are vital for compliance in industries where manufacturers must meet strict specifications. Metrology specialists ensure their production processes and output meet regulatory requirements, preventing legal issues and protecting the company’s reputation. Failure to comply with regulations can have devastating consequences for customers (i.e., non-compliant products can pose risks like fire hazards and safety issues due to component defects) and manufacturers, hence the importance of metrology in industrial manufacturing.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Industrial metrology contributes to operational efficiency because it reduces production errors. The data from metrology specialists enables machine operators, product development designers, and other specialists working in production to meet expected specifications with as few errors as possible.
With expert implementation, industrial metrology can enhance efficiencies and offer companies the following benefits:
- Improved Machine Efficiency: One of the primary duties of metrology specialists is to calibrate measuring tools and machinery. They ensure that the equipment used to manufacture products is accurate. Production will be more efficient if every production stage meets quality standards every time.
- Efficient Use of Resources: Calibrations ensure equipment efficiency, ensuring that raw materials and resources are used optimally. For instance, metrologists calibrate cutting and molding machines so that the physical measurements of their output are always within acceptable tolerances. This leads to optimal consumption, low operational costs, and high profitability.
- Less Production Waste: Metrologists provide accurate and detailed measurements for each step of the production process. This allows operators to optimize raw materials, ensure production processes meet requirements, and generate as little waste as possible. If measurements are off by just a fraction of a millimeter, QC officials can declare them defective and order for their recall and disposal.
- Preventive Maintenance: Regular calibration of machines offers another benefit: machine technicians become aware of potential issues before they escalate and negatively impact production. Machines succumb to wear and tear over time, so regular calibration and preventive maintenance are necessary. Metrology experts equipped with tools like coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are the best people for this task.
Maintaining High Standards and Product Quality
Maintaining high-quality standards across production batches is one of the biggest challenges of manufacturing. There are so many independent factors that can affect processes. However, manufacturers can still take control and minimize the impact of some rogue variables like equipment breakdown and inconsistent raw materials through industrial metrology.
Customers lose confidence in a brand or product if there is a noticeable deterioration in its quality. Here’s how metrology specialists ensure product quality and consistency and keep their customers’ trust:
- Machine Calibration: Metrologists ensure that machines always produce accurate dimensions, shapes, and other physical specifications
- Quality Control: Metrologists provide quality verification specialists with precise measurements and other data to check whether the machinery and output meet target standards. In the process, QC specialists ensure that products are durable, high quality, and adhere to industry requirements.
- Production Cycle QA: Besides calibrating production equipment, metrologists evaluate production processes from designing to manufacturing. They provide accurate metrological data to improve efficiency, machine performance, and output quality.
Driving Innovation
One of the often overlooked benefits of industrial metrology is it opens possibilities for innovations and drives competitiveness. Industrial manufacturing processes evolve along with technological developments, and manufacturers must keep up with these trends to stay ahead of competitors.
But, using modern technology without fully understanding its impact on the company’s operations can have underwhelming results. It raises the risk of spending thousands on new technology but seeing only minimal improvements in productivity.
Manufacturers can optimize technology and inspire innovation and research to improve SOPs and machine performance with industrial metrology. Here’s how metrology drives innovation:
- Informing Research and Development: Accurate measurements are the backbone of product development. Industrial metrology provides reliable data to inform decision-makers and experts in developing cutting-edge products and customized equipment.
- Improving Market Adaptability: Change is one of the constants in industrial manufacturing. Companies that optimize metrological experts and tools can quickly keep up with industry and market trends because they proactively obtain data for developing new products that meet the evolving demand.
- Maintaining Global Competitiveness: Companies that can maximize the benefits of metrology in all areas – research, development and design, production, and quality control – are best positioned to compete in the global market. They can meet standards and regulatory requirements at the international level and compete with other countries’ top producers.
Don’t Miss Out on the Benefits of Industrial Metrology
From ensuring precision in production and improving operational efficiency to maintaining high-quality standards and compliance, industrial metrology proves vital in a manufacturing company’s success. Acknowledging its importance and prioritizing its applications can help a company advance, especially in competitive industries.
Explore how industrial metrology can improve your operations. At ATT Metrology, we provide customized metrology services and solutions for various industries and offer comprehensive services, from consultation and equipment leasing to acquisition, fabrication, and assembly.
Book an appointment with our metrology experts today.