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In the past, quality inspectors used laser light gages to determine physical parameters such as roughness and waviness. They then compared these measurements to manufacturing and customer guidelines. If a part or group of parts fell outside the standards set for the process, a complete rebuilding of the spindle machinery was usually required. This after-the-fact measurement of quality became increasingly objectionable because of the costs associated with repair, downtime, and rework.
Tests to determine if a correlation existed between the quality of the machined surface and spindle machine vibration revealed that product quality could be predicted by measuring vibration acceleration. So, plant personnel established new limits that reduced product rework by 93%. The new limits also helped eliminate some root problems in the machinery that were previously unknown to company engineers.
Michael V. Brown is the President of New Standard Institute, a training and consulting firm specializing in industrial maintenance. He has held maintenance engineering and management positions at both the plant and corporate levels for Monsanto, Olin Corp. and Stauffer Chemical. As a principal with New Standard, he designed and maintenance modernization programs for diverse industrial and institutional clients. Mr. Brown is the author of many articles on maintenance management, published in the US and Canada.
New Standard Institute was founded in 1991 in Milford, Connecticut to provide industrial clients with management consulting and technical training services. New Standard is dedicated to the advancement of the Maintenance Profession through creative seminar, classroom, and field training, which focuses on the changing educational needs of management, supervision, and skilled maintenance personnel.
The firm is staffed with degreed professionals covering electrical, mechanical and chemical disciplines. Using current technology and methods we address both the technical and administrative requirements of a modern maintenance organization.
For other articles on maintenance related subjects, view our website at http://www.newstandardinstitute.com, contact us via email at nsi@newstandardinstitute.com, or call us at (203)-783-1582 and (888)-783-1582
Copyright (c) 1999 by New Standard Institute, Inc.
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