How to reduce errors and increase the quality of work?
How to improve product quality and reduce errors? The historical data collected can be compared with the current production state to show its progress. The system stores information about operators and machine settings and records values for process parameters such as temperature, pressure, force, or speed.
Historical data helps to link the finished product with the tools, raw materials or the operators who contributed to the creation of a said item. The analysis of this information allows serialization of the production. It enables you to quickly search the production series or identify a single product.
Reducing errors is also possible with periodic quality inspections. The system helps to comply with IATF 16949 standards. How? By starting with requesting quality inspections after certain events, e.g., when a production line has been idle for more than 25 minutes or when an operator has detected three faults within an hour.
Labelling as means of tools and material validation
Validation makes it possible to identify the materials and components used in the production process and verify their origin and conformity with the items’ BOM. In addition, you can ensure that components have passed quality control.
How does labelling improve production quality? This method is effective for material and tool validation. Each item is identified with a 1D/2D label. As it travels through the production line, this code is scanned and the information on the label assigned by the system is then compared with the bill of materials (BOM). If the status of a given component meets the requirements, a message is sent to the operator to start the production. If, on the other hand, it turns out that the material has not passed quality control, that the expiration date has passed or that it is incomplete or defective, the employee also receives a corresponding message.
The production management system also contributes to buffers on the machine by regularly analysing the machines’ stocks and exchanging information with the warehouse about material supplies. In this way, the risk of a production stop due to insufficient raw materials is eliminated. Advanced technological software should also control, count and store data on the current number of tool cycles to predict the need for tool refurbishment or replacement on time.
The benefits of traceability in reducing the number of production errors
Production facilities use modern production management systems to reduce errors. Nevertheless, sometimes production line problems cannot be completely ruled out. Even then, with the help of software, you can take measures that will benefit the quality of your services. How?
Full traceability of suppliers and customers plays a unique role by facilitating activities in a batch recall. The up-stream and down-stream traceability allows to quickly find customers that get blocked component. This allows to respond quickly to complaints and be more transparent to the customer, which has a positive effect on the company’s image.
Analysis of production flow and critical areas allows defining quality gates throughout the production. Traceability helps not only to reduce the risk of human error stemming from using wrong or blocked components, but also offers a much easier and faster compliance process thanks to traceability upstream and downstream.
Easy access to historical data (SPC reports, control cards, machine set-points, BOMs, etc.) allows Root Cause Analysis of the production process to identify potential quality, technological and technical problems on the production line. Assigning a finished product to specific parameters, place, and production time allows analyzing the source of a potential problem, which can be:
- a poorly chosen tool for the specific application,
- incorrect machine settings,
- utilizing improper raw material.
Production with traceability – minimize your losses
Production will never be 100 percent error-free. Many factors can be at fault, such as the operator, the raw material supplier, an outdated machine and many others. Traceability allows minimizing losses and delays resulting from the inability to identify the source of the issue. If you are experiencing problems during production and are exploring ways how to identify them, contact ANT Solutions.
