Content By Quality Digest

DNV Launches Recommended Practices for Safely Applying Industrial AI

By: Quality Digest 12/04/2023

(DNV: Høvik, Norway) -- DNV, a risk management and assurance company, has published a suite of recommended practices (RPs) that will enable companies operating critical devices, assets, and infrastructure to safely apply artificial intelligence (AI).

High-quality AI systems require strong building blocks: data, sensors, algorithms, and digital twins. The nine new or updated RPs cover each of these digital building blocks. DNV’s strong sector knowledge of the maritime, energy, and healthcare sectors, among others, enables it to understand not just how AI works, but how it interacts with other systems in complex infrastructure and assets.

The advent of AI requires a new approach to risk. Whereas conventional mechanical or electric systems degrade over years, AI-enabled systems change within milliseconds. Consequently, a conventional certificate provided by DNV, which normally has a three- to five-year validity, could be invalidated with each collected data point. This necessitates a different assurance methodology, and a thorough understanding of the intricate interplay between a system and AI to allow for a proper assessment of failure modes as well as potential for real-world performance enhancement.

By: Quality Digest 12/04/2023

(Capgemini: Paris) -- The 15th edition of the World Quality Report, published by Capgemini, Sogeti, and OpenText, highlights the rising importance of quality engineering (QE) to enhance both sustainability in business operations and value delivery to customers and end users. According to the report, 67% of organizations have incorporated QE at the core of their business operations to ensure that technological advancements adhere to quality standards.

By: Dawn Bailey 11/29/2023

During the recent celebration of Manufacturing Day, thousands of U.S. manufacturers showcased the realities of modern manufacturing to students as a way to inspire the next generation.

The importance of this can’t be overemphasized. During the next decade, four million U.S. manufacturing jobs will need to be filled, according to a workforce study by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte. The study reports that a skills gap may leave more than half of those manufacturing jobs unfilled through 2028, creating $2.5 trillion of unrealized economic impact.

By: Gleb Tsipursky 11/21/2023

In the era of hybrid work, where a combination of remote and office work is becoming more prevalent, there has been a notable transformation in the way work is perceived. Society is questioning the conventional five-day office week and replacing it with a more flexible approach. Surprisingly, it’s the bosses in middle-management positions who are exhibiting resistance toward this shift. A significant proportion of these middle managers are adamant about maintaining their work-from-home arrangements, which is creating a ripple effect throughout the corporate landscape.

The boss privilege

A thought-provoking irony has been brought to light in a report by McKinsey based on a survey of 13,000 office workers in six countries: The individuals who possess the power are using their privilege to avoid coming to the office. The report unveiled that 48% of higher-ranking employees currently engage in remote work for at least one day per week, while only 33% of those in entry-level positions do the same. This significant difference in remote-work practices prompts inquiries regarding the trajectory of work in the future and the influence of leadership in shaping it.

By: Quality Digest 11/20/2023

(MasterControl: Salt Lake City) -- MasterControl, a leading provider of quality management and next-generation manufacturing execution software, has announced a major milestone with more than 150 customers adopting Manufacturing Excellence, its modern manufacturing execution system (MES), demonstrating significant momentum with product sales and customer adoption.

As more companies are making the shift toward digital maturity, adding a modern MES with no-code process design, digital work instructions, electronic production records, and review by exception is quickly becoming a core element to meeting that objective. In Q3 2023 alone, MasterControl had 15 new customers go live with Manufacturing Excellence. That is an increase over the 12 new customers that went live with Manufacturing Excellence in Q2 2023.

By: Eric Whitley 11/20/2023

Historically, manufacturing processes have often involved substantial waste. From the early days of industrialization, companies have prioritized production speed and volume over efficient resource use. As resources seemed abundant and environmental consciousness was low, excessive waste became an accepted cost of business.

In recent years, there’s been a notable shift in manufacturing practices. Driven by global awareness of climate change and dwindling resources, companies have begun to prioritize sustainability. This shift not only reflects a commitment to ethical operations but also a response to consumer demands for environmentally responsible products.

The consequences of waste in manufacturing

Waste in the manufacturing sector leads to severe environmental consequences. Excessive material waste contributes to landfill overfill, while energy waste increases greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, water pollution from untreated industrial waste affects aquatic life and human health.

By: Quality Digest 11/20/2023

(ABB: Zurich) -- ABB has successfully completed testing of an industry-first automated robot charging technology for underground mines in partnership with mine operators Boliden and LKAB. The goal is to make mines safer by automating one of few manual processes left in mining: charging the blasting holes with explosives.

Blasting schedules in underground mines can vary, but the process takes place up to 15 times per day in larger mines as miners expand the chambers to extract mineral and metal ores. The ABB robot charger automatically detects boreholes and fills them with charges without the presence of humans, removing the need for people to be near the unsupported rock face during blasting sequences.

The completed testing phase confirms the effectiveness of integrating the robot charger with a carrier vehicle, communication with bulk emulsion and vision systems, and incorporation of a second robot arm to assemble the primer and detonator. It ensures full reach to all borehole levels and areas of the rock face as well as remote control for operators.

The program has been undertaken at Boliden Garpenberg, which is the world's most productive underground zinc mine, 180 km northwest of Stockholm.

By: Quality Digest 11/16/2023

(University of North Carolina: Charlotte, NC) -- After the death of Bailey Squier, co-founder of the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), its board of directors contemplated ways to ensure his accomplishments and legacy aren’t forgotten. As a symbol of gratitude and admiration for Squier’s life and legacy, the DMSC board established the Bailey H. Squier DMSC Metrology Memorial Scholarship.

Serving as the DMSC executive director from 2005 to 2019, Squier helped turn the Quality Information Framework (QIF) into the leading digital metrology standard for model-based enterprise. Prior to DMSC, he was well-known throughout the ANSI and ISO standards organizations, with substantial influence over manufacturing and quality standards during his 40-year career with the CAM-I organization. Additionally, Squier was the primary technology architect of the DMIS (dimensional measuring interface standard) metrology standard, which enabled traceability of measurement processes and interoperability between coordinate measuring systems.

By: Quality Digest 11/16/2023

(Marposs: Auburn Hills, MI) -- Marposs, a global leader in measurement, inspection, and test technologies, has announced its “Marposs Care” after-sales service. The service agreements for Marposs Care focus on preventive maintenance, calibration, customer training, and process improvement, and the company supports each area with a team of specialized engineers. The aim is to offer services that drive the continuous performance and productivity of Marposs equipment and applications.

“This is an exciting time for Marposs and its customers in the U.S. market,” says Kevin Messing, North American service and repair manager. “We’re confident that Marposs Care will help our customers gain the most of their equipment and allow them to achieve maximum uptime.”

Customized preventive maintenance programs include checkups to help reduce the risk of failure, optimize production capacity, and keep the equipment operating near its original condition. The use of original spare parts guarantees optimal performance, while reports provided by service team members offer insight into equipment status.

By: Silke von Gemmingen 11/15/2023

The manufacturing sector is currently facing a number of challenges. Technological change, pressing environmental issues, and globalization require a number of adjustments, such as investing in new technologies, conserving resources, and optimizing and securing supply chains.

Shifting production back to the domestic market is increasingly an option. This requires not only resilience, but also compliance with strict environmental regulations and cost-efficient strategies to make domestic manufacturing competitive. Moreover, those who want to ensure the competitiveness of domestic production must overcome personnel bottlenecks.

Automation through robotics has long since become the driving force here, and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly taking on a key role. This technology is developing just as rapidly as the pressure for automation is increasing. In order to map production processes in one’s own company with AI, simplifying AI integration and shortening training phases are already decisive factors.

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