Much is being written about lean lanufacturing and its benefits. A lean manufacturing process is one where everything flows smoothly; no processes are idle nor are any overwhelmed-there is little or no inventory; machines are not overloaded while others are empty; and the flow of materials is logical without steps being retraced. Lean manufacturing benefits all aspects of a company's business, extending even to its marketing and customer service. But how does dimensional metrology and quality control fit into a lean process? Consider what makes a measurement system best support lean manufacturing. Every manufactured part must comply with a design. Whether a part is a freestanding item, or part of a higher-level assembly, dimensions are maintained to ensure its correct operation and performance. Depending on the tolerances involved, any number of measurement systems and tools might be used. In addition, measurements may be performed at several stages in the manufacturing process, with differing tolerance requirements at each step.
展开▼
