2025 March

Check out the March 2025 edition of Quality! Read our cover story on Quality's 2025 Plant of the Year, Spectrum Custom Packaging. Read more features on advancements in hardness, ERPs, a special From the Editor column, and much more!

Staff gather for a group photo at Spectrum Custom Packaging, Inc.

Quality Plant of the Year Winner

2025 Quality Plant of the Year: Spectrum Custom Packaging

Spectrum Stands Out

Michelle Bangert

February 28, 2025

Keeping defects low and reducing scrap is not an easy task. But Spectrum Custom Packaging made it happen. Meet Quality's 2025 Plant of the Year.

Person using a laptop with document management for ERP. Enterprise resource planning concept

Software

ERPs Remain Highly Beneficial, but Success Depends on the Right Plan and Approach

The key to ERP success is starting off on the right foot.

Elvis Burcul

February 25, 2025

ERP systems have evolved to integrate key business functions and remain relevant, but their complex implementation requires effective planning for success.

Measurement

Mastering with Deviations for Increased Gaging Performance

The time has come to adopt master deviations as a necessary practice in modern manufacturing processes.

George Schuetz

February 24, 2025

The gaging setting standard is essential for accurate measurements in high-performance manufacturing, despite often being overlooked. While digital calipers are versatile, they lack the precision of comparative gages that rely on a master-setting standard for sub-micron accuracy. Proper use of this standard can enhance performance and lower calibration costs.

Brain Power: A Cartoon Illustration of a Brain Lifting Weights

Management

TRIZ: The Backbone of Innovation and Problem-Solving

Unchain your brain by using techniques that are proven by empirical data.

Richard Langevin

February 18, 2025

TRIZ, or Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, is a methodology developed by Genrich Altshuller in the mid-20th century to creatively solve engineering and technical problems. It posits that innovation follows predictable patterns, utilizing tools derived from the study of patents.

AI Evaluation for Brinell Testing with EMCO-TEST DuraVision.

Test & Inspection

Advancements in Hardness Testing: Heatmapping and the Power of AI-Indentation Evaluation in the Metals Industry

An exciting addition to hardness testing is the integration of AI-based indentation evaluation, which enhances the precision and efficiency of hardness mapping.

Markus Huttary

February 15, 2025

Hardness testing is essential in material sciences, particularly through hardness mapping, which generates detailed heat maps from thousands of indentations. Enhanced by AI-based evaluation, this method improves accuracy and is widely used in industries like automotive and aerospace. The article discusses the methods and future of AI-driven hardness testing.

Shot of a young businesswoman going over paperwork in a modern office.

Management

Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Management System Auditing

Although it may sound easy to some, preparing for the audit journey may not come naturally to everyone.

Susan Gorveatte

February 9, 2025

Auditing is a journey that demands a positive attitude, effective planning, and clear goals. Auditors require essential skills to achieve the audit objective, ultimately delivering value by identifying findings that save time and money. While preparation can be challenging, knowing key strategies for successful auditing can make a big difference.

The Metrology Corner | Emil Hazarian

Metrology, Archeology and Architecture

The time resilience is a testament to their quality where measurements played a determining role.

Emil Hazarian CCPE, MSQA – MSME Dipl. Ing.

February 26, 2025

Consider two fields of science, having at the first look, no relation with metrology: Architecture-Archeology and Psychology.

Female engineer and a male technician investigate the problem of the operation of the robot arm in the factory.

Standards

Will the Next ISO 9001 Change Require More Training?

Let’s look at the processes the organization should go through to ensure effective management of whatever the 2026 version brings.

Andrew Nichols

February 23, 2025

With the 2026 version of the ISO 9001 on the horizon, organizations must ask: will more training be needed? This article explores the key processes to ensure effective management of the upcoming changes, helping teams stay prepared for the challenges ahead.

Hacker in a dark hoodie committing cyber crime with a laptop, green binary numbers on a black background.

Column | John Vandenbemden

Do You Need to Implement ISO27001?

The question is how vulnerable are you to a cyberattack?

John Vandenbemden

February 17, 2025

Evaluating your organization’s vulnerability to cyberattacks is essential, especially regarding ISO27001 requirements. Many overlook IT security, which can lead to serious issues; I’ve witnessed two organizations attacked, one during a renewal audit, emphasizing the need for strong cybersecurity.

Two engineers wearing orange safety vests, safety glasses and blue hard hats, analyzing robotic arm performance in a factory setting.

Quality Rocks

The Rise of Quality Escapes (and What to Do About it)

How quality affects every part of our lives – including breakfast.

Jim Doxey

February 16, 2025

While enjoying my Cheerios, I encountered a hard piece of plastic, dubbed a "quality escape." I reported this to General Mills, hoping for a thorough investigation, but received only a generic response with a coupon. I was left disappointed that my feedback didn’t prompt serious quality control actions.

Buck Bicek portrait with red background.

From the Editor | Darryl Seland

You Say Goodbye And I Say Hello

Darryl Seland

February 14, 2025

Last month we introduced you to the newest member of the Quality staff. This month, we bid a fond farewell to a long-standing member of Quality and the quality industry.

Three young business people discussing business plans in a conference room.

Face of Quality | Jim L. Smith

Employee Involvement Pays

Management establishes the employee involvement culture to drive quality initiatives.

Jim L. Smith

February 12, 2025

My career in employee involvement initiatives has shown me that while top management commitment is essential for successful quality programs, gaining middle management buy-in is equally important for translating that commitment into action.

Moser on Manufacturing

Blind Spot: Lessons Learned From The Great American Offshoring Debacle

Together we can take action to rebuild the U.S. manufacturing powerhouse.

Harry Moser

February 1, 2025

Offshoring has led to U.S. job losses, factory closures, and weakened competitiveness, highlighting the need to revitalize manufacturing.

Vision & Sensors | Trends

Machine Vision Trends: Evolution of Hardware, Software, and Applications

As these trends mature, the potential for machine vision to redefine industrial operations remains boundless.

Philip Freidin

February 5, 2025

Machine vision is transforming modern manufacturing. Innovations like event-based imaging and AI-driven tools are revolutionizing quality assurance and efficiency. This article examines key trends, highlighting breakthroughs in imaging, industrial streaming cameras, area scan sensors, and intelligent software that set new standards for precision and performance.

Vision & Sensors | Machine Vision 101

Understanding the Role of Machine Vision and Ethernet Switches in GigE Vision Imaging Systems

The configuration of any machine vision system is dictated by the application’s demands, which include resolution, field of view, frame rate, speed of production, and interface requirements.

Henry Martel

February 4, 2025

Explore the role of industrial Ethernet switches in machine vision applications, highlighting key factors for selecting a switch that meets the high bandwidth and data rate demands and our focus is on GigE Vision cameras, the most commonly used protocol in industrial networks and machine vision today.

Vision & Sensors | Inspection

Will AI Replace the Human Eye in Inspection?

AI is better than us at high-resolution, repetitive inspections, but humans are better at understanding messy, random visual information.

Nili Walp

February 3, 2025

As technology advances, a key debate centers on AI versus the human eye in inspection. Both manufacturing and medical sectors are questioning whether AI surpasses human vision or if the human eye still holds an undeniable advantage.

Vision & Sensors | Case Study

Introducing Automation to Your Factory Floor

If your factory relies heavily on manual labor, my advice is to start small and build gradually.

Matt Jones

February 2, 2025

Manufacturers are turning to automation amid a labor shortage, with 67% of U.S. companies unable to attract talent and 622,000 job openings as of January 2024. In Europe, 75% of employers face similar challenges. The push for reshoring and tariffs intensifies the demand for automation.

This webinar, featuring a live demonstration, will showcase the evolution of Hexagon’s direct scanning laser trackers: cutting-edge technology that now delivers traditional reflector-tracking accuracy to non-contact, large-part scanning.

Quality Magazine

Cover Story