Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study
Dependence on manual inspections for quality control often results in errors, especially after prolonged periods of work that heighten the risk of missed defects. There is no shortage of expensive commercial inspection systems that can carry out the quality control work satisfactorily. However, smal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Machines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/904 |
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| author | Hang Sun Wei-Ting Teo Kenji Wong Botao Dong Jan Polzer Xun Xu |
| author_facet | Hang Sun Wei-Ting Teo Kenji Wong Botao Dong Jan Polzer Xun Xu |
| author_sort | Hang Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dependence on manual inspections for quality control often results in errors, especially after prolonged periods of work that heighten the risk of missed defects. There is no shortage of expensive commercial inspection systems that can carry out the quality control work satisfactorily. However, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges in adopting these new systems for their production workflows because of the associated integration risks, high cost, and skill complexity. To address these issues, a portable, cost-effective, and automated quality inspection system was developed as an introductory tool for SMEs. Leveraging computer vision, 3D-printed mechanical parts, and accessible components, this system offers a 360-degree inspection of production line products, enabling SMEs to explore automation with minimal investment. It features a brief training phase using a few defect-free parts to reduce the skill barrier, thus helping SMEs to transition towards smart manufacturing. These help to address the main technology adoption barriers of cost, risk, and complexity. The system’s performance was validated through repeated testing on a large sheet metal chassis installed in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), confirming its effectiveness as a steppingstone toward more advanced smart manufacturing solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7495ee6308fb46febe721e634d3f46dc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1702 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Machines |
| spelling | doaj-art-7495ee6308fb46febe721e634d3f46dc2025-08-20T02:57:19ZengMDPI AGMachines2075-17022024-12-01121290410.3390/machines12120904Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case StudyHang Sun0Wei-Ting Teo1Kenji Wong2Botao Dong3Jan Polzer4Xun Xu5Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New ZealandDependence on manual inspections for quality control often results in errors, especially after prolonged periods of work that heighten the risk of missed defects. There is no shortage of expensive commercial inspection systems that can carry out the quality control work satisfactorily. However, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges in adopting these new systems for their production workflows because of the associated integration risks, high cost, and skill complexity. To address these issues, a portable, cost-effective, and automated quality inspection system was developed as an introductory tool for SMEs. Leveraging computer vision, 3D-printed mechanical parts, and accessible components, this system offers a 360-degree inspection of production line products, enabling SMEs to explore automation with minimal investment. It features a brief training phase using a few defect-free parts to reduce the skill barrier, thus helping SMEs to transition towards smart manufacturing. These help to address the main technology adoption barriers of cost, risk, and complexity. The system’s performance was validated through repeated testing on a large sheet metal chassis installed in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), confirming its effectiveness as a steppingstone toward more advanced smart manufacturing solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/904real-time inspectionsmart manufacturinglow-costsmall and medium-sized enterprises |
| spellingShingle | Hang Sun Wei-Ting Teo Kenji Wong Botao Dong Jan Polzer Xun Xu Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study Machines real-time inspection smart manufacturing low-cost small and medium-sized enterprises |
| title | Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study |
| title_full | Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study |
| title_short | Automating Quality Control on a Shoestring, a Case Study |
| title_sort | automating quality control on a shoestring a case study |
| topic | real-time inspection smart manufacturing low-cost small and medium-sized enterprises |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/12/904 |
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