19/01/2015

ComputerAidedQualityControl(CAQC):UseofComputerinQualityControl

ComputerAidedQualityControlorCAQC
writtenby:HareshKhemanieditedby:LamarStonecypherupdated:2/21/2010
Theuseofcomputers forqualitycontroloftheproductiscalledasthecomputeraidedqualitycontrolorCAQC.ThisarticlesdescribesimportantaspectsofCAQC
includingcomputeraidedinspection(CAI)andcomputeraidedtesting(CAT)

WhatisComputerAidedQualityControlorCAQC?
TheuseofthecomputersforqualitycontroloftheproductiscalledasthecomputeraidedqualitycontrolorCAQC.Thetwomajorpartsofqualitycontrolareinspection
andtesting,whicharetraditionallyperformedmanuallywiththehelpofgages,measuringdevicesandthetestingapparatus.Thetwomajorpartsofcomputeraided
qualitycontrolarecomputeraidedinspection(CAI)andcomputeraidedtesting(CAT).CAIandCATareperformedbyusingthelatestcomputerautomation and
sensortechnology.CAIandCATarethestandalonesystems andwithoutthemthefullpotentialofCAQCcannotbeachieved.
ThemainobjectivesoftheCAQCaretoimprovethequalityoftheproduct,increasetheproductivityintheinspectionprocessandreducetheleadtimesin
manufacturing.TheimplementationofCAQCinthecompanyresultsinthemajorchangeinthewaytheprocessofqualitycontroliscarriedoutinthecompany.

ImportantPointsandAdvantagesofComputerAidedQualityControlorCAQC
Herearetheadvantagesandthehighlightsofthecomputeraidedqualitycontrolprocess:
1)100%testingandinspection:Inthetraditionalmanualprocessthetestingandinspectionisdonebythesamplingprocessoutofthehundredsandthousandsof
productsorpartsmanufacturedbythecompanysinceitisnotfeasibletocheckeachandeveryproduct.WithCAIandCAThundredpercentinspectionandtestingcan
beaccomplishedwithoutmuchdifficulty.With100%inspectionthecompanydoesnothavetodependonstatisticalqualitycontrolmethodinwhichitisassumedthat
anythinglessthan100%ofqualityisacceptable.Withcomputercontrolledinspection,itisnotnecessaryforthequalitycontroldepartmenttosettleforlessthan
perfection.
2)Inspectionintegratedwithmanufacturingprocess:Inthetraditionalprocessthereisseparatequalitycontroldepartmentwherethemanufacturedproductistaken
fortheinspectionandtesting.InCAQCtheinspectionprocessisintegratedwiththemanufacturingprocessanditislocatedalongtheproductionline.Thusassoonas
theproductismanufactureditistestedimmediatelybythecomputerizedprocesswithoutmovingittosomeotherlocation.Thishelpsinreducingtheoveralltime
requiredformanufacturingtheproduct.
3)Useofnoncontactsensors:Inthetraditionalprocesstheproductortheparttobeinspectedishandledmanuallysinceithastobepositionedproperlyfor
inspectiononthedeskorsuitablelocation.InCAQCnoncontactsensorsareusedfortheinspectionpurposeandtheyinspecttheproductwithoutcomingincontact
withtheproduct.Thenoncontactsensorsoperatedbythecomputerarekeptalongtheproductionlineandtheycanchecktheproductveryquicklyinthefractionof
seconds.Infuturewithfurtheradvancementsinthetechnology,therobotswouldbeusedtocarryouttheinspectionprocessthusfurtherautomatingandspeedingthe
process.
4)Computerizedfeedbackcontrolsystem:Thedata collectedbythenoncontactsensorsissentasthefeedbacktothecomputerizedcontrolsystems.These
systemswouldcarryouttheanalysisofthedataincludingstatisticaltrendanalysis.Thishelpsinidentifyingtheproblemgoingoninthemanufacturinglineandfind
appropriatesolutiontoit.Forinstance,theresultsfromnoncontactsensorsmayindicatethatthepartsmanufacturedarenotwithintheacceptabletolerancelimits.
Thiswouldhelptheproductionorqualitycontrolpersonneltofindoutthepreciselocationoftheproblemanditsexactcause.Thecorrectiveactiontakenquicklysaves
lotsoftimeandmoneyduetoreducedwastagesandalsoimprovesthequalityoftheproduct.
5)ComputeraidedqualitycontrolandCAD/CAMintegration:Apartfrominspectionandtesting,computersareusedinanumberofotherareasofthequalitycontrol.
AlltheapplicationsofCAQCcanbeintegratedwithCAD/CAMtomakethewholeprocessofdesigningandmanufacturingcontrolledbythecomputersconvertedinto
fullyautomatedprocess.

Reference
1)Book:CAD/CAM:ComputerAidedDesignandManufacturingbyMikellP.GrooverandEmoryW.Zimmers,Jr.,PrenticeHallofIndiaPrivateLimited.

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/cadautocadreviewstips/64482computeraidedqualitycontrolorcaqc/

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