Metrology’s Role in Manufacturing
Metrology is the science of measurement. While metrology plays a vital role in the manufacturing process, many people are not conversant with the term. Industries use this technology for quality control during manufacturing processes. Whether it is manufacturing household gadgets, ensuring phone components are working optimally or the car moves as expected companies require metrology for quality assurance.
The manufacturing sector produces a gazillion of components every week. Each of the members must have precise specifications during production to ensure the end product meets the required quality. With technological advancement, many of the parts are by robots or programmed machines. However, the devices are susceptible to problems. A slight shift in an individual component or loses alignment can adversely affect the quality of final products. This is metrology comes in handy.
Metrology provides the quality assurance necessary for contemporary manufacturing processes. Industries use this technology to produce a gazillion of identical sophisticated items. Without this technology mass production would be hard if not impossible.
Measurements Adjustment and Unmatched precision
With the increasing demand for quality products, it is crucial for industries to produce top notch products. However, the human eye lacks the capacity to measure with precision the requisite value for creating quality items. As a result, industries such as technology, aerospace, and automotive, where accuracy is vital, have adopted metrology technology such as Coordinate measuring machines. The machines can take measures as small as millions of an inch.
A metrologist or a quality control inspector clerks inspects whether the produced material meets the set specifications of finished products. A machine operator with adequate knowledge and experience in metrology can also undertake the job. If the measurements are incorrect, they can adjust the parts according to the set specifications.
Why Metrology is Important
If you are keen enough, you must have noticed cars nowadays last a little longer than in the past. Initially, a car lasting 100,000 miles was no mean feat. Today, it is quite common for cars to last more than 300000 miles. The massive quality improvement is attributed to giving proper attention to each part of the car during production. Essentially, the manufacturers ensure the component fits perfectly during production. Thanks to metrology technology, these advances in quality assurance have been made possible.
Today, automated production lines produce millions of items every month with little human input. Each machine produces a specific part with precise specifications and has a preset error tolerance. The degree of tolerance depends on the part produced. The machine will self-diagnose as long as the product is within an allowed tolerance. If this is not the case, the machine alerts the operator signalling a problem to the quality control team.
Thanks to meteorology, manufacturers can produce high standards of goods faster and accurately. The benefits trickle down to consumers as manufacturers offer high quality but affordable products. The automotive industry was among the initial production lines, and is one of the industries that appreciate the importance of metrology in producing quality parts. They have refined their processes over the years, ensuring they make high standard products. Legal metrology in road safety measurements reduces accidents.
Besides the standard requirements by international and national regulating bodies, industrial companies embrace metrology to meet production needs for economic and technical competitiveness. Science has thrived in the interface between science and manufacturing, medicine, and aerospace.
Final Words
Manufacturing takes into account the component specification, and it is incomplete until the components are measured. Some processes require taking measurements at the Nano level. This is why metrology, the science of measurement, is essential in manufacturing quality assurance. Correct measurements are vital for commerce, and it is not a surprise that the bulk of metrology technicians specialize in commercial measurements. Generally, technology enables manufacturing industries to enhance productivity, reduce cost and produce a perfect product.As we have seen metrology plays a mojor role in manufacturing. therefore those in the manufacturing industry should take it to account.
