Genevieve Diesing

Engineers rely on industry standards for safety, which require extensive development time. However, the rapid pace of emerging technologies poses challenges for timely standardization, as reaching consensus on new standards becomes difficult in a fast-changing environment, according to Shawn Moylan from NIST.

Manufacturing companies must document greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, and hazardous materials handling due to new sustainability regulations. The SEC Climate Disclosure Rules require public companies to report emissions, and private manufacturers may also face pressure to disclose similar information, according to Marcel Minutola of Peritia LLC.

Leak testing applications are evolving rapidly as manufacturers adapt to challenges in electric vehicle production, sustainability, and automation.

Discover how advancements in AI and automation are transforming universal testing machines, offering enhanced accuracy and safety while posing new challenges in workforce training and user experience.

Prepare for a transformative shift in quality management as sustainability becomes essential. Major updates are set for 2026 with ISO 9001, integrating AI into quality systems, followed by a significant overhaul of ISO 14001 in 2028.

Probes and styli are vital for smart manufacturing, evolving into advanced sensors that enhance automation and quality control. These precise tools measure parts, guide machines, and enable real-time adjustments, improving efficiency and reducing defects in CNC and robotic applications.

The use of advanced 3D scanning tools is revolutionizing quality control, design, and manufacturing, particularly with the adoption of digital standards and 3D printing. However, this shift presents challenges in maintaining consistent standards globally and across different regulations.

Fatigue testing has made significant progress in recent years, especially in test and environmental conditions. Remote monitoring has advanced with the use of AI-enabled camera systems, making it easier to integrate legacy instruments.

Automation requires precise data and careful attention to uncertainty, especially in longer processes with less human involvement, according to Chris Gordon from Optronic Laboratories.

Liquid penetrant testing (LPT) is a versatile, portable, simple, and sensitive method for detecting surface defects. It can be used on a wide range of materials and is excellent at finding surface discontinuities such as defects, porosity, lack of fusion, or surface-breaking cracks.