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Quality Control of Incoming Goods: How to Avoid Mistakes

Quality control of incoming goods represents one of the most critical stages in the production process. When non-compliant materials bypass this stage, the consequences can be devastating for the entire production chain, which lead to additional costs and efficiency issues that cut into profits. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of using reliable and accurate measuring tools to catch errors early and maintain high production quality.

Issues with defective supplies

One of the most common issues in quality control is receiving supplies that do not meet the required specifications. This can happen for various reasons, such as size variations, defective materials, or issues in the suppliers’ production processes.  In these situations, a superficial or inaccurate inspection isn’t enough to identify discrepancies, which can jeopardize the entire production process.

For example, if a company that manufactures mechanical components receives a new batch of raw materials with the wrong dimensional tolerances, this can lead to a series of defective finished products. The result?  The entire production batch might be rejected, leading to higher production costs, wasted time, and a loss of customer trust.

 

Fears of faulty inspections

Quality control technicians often fear that they might not be able to identify defects in incoming materials. Uncertainty in measurements can lead to concerns that a non-compliant product might go undetected and end up in production, significantly increasing the risk of defective products.

This concern is further intensified by the pressure to perform inspections quickly. Rushing to speed up the process can result in less thorough checks or improper use of measuring tools.

Consequences of inaccurate measurements

The consequences of inaccurate measurements can be severe for the production cycle. If an error in inspecting incoming goods goes unnoticed, defective materials may enter the production chain, leading to a series of problems. Often, defects go unnoticed until the finished product is tested or, worse, when it is used by the end user.

Direct consequences include:

  • Production delays: Defects that are found out late can delay or even stop the production process, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
  • Increased costs: Additional expenses for returning or replacing defective materials if they aren’t identified early.
  • Customer dissatisfaction: Defective products can harm the company’s reputation and result in lost business.

 

The solution: Reliable measuring tools

To prevent these issues, it’s essential to implement an efficient quality control system sustained by highly accurate measuring instruments. That’s why SAMA Tools products play an essential role and ensure that every measurement is reliable, repeatable, and accurate.

Here are some key benefits of using high-precision measuring tools while inspecting incoming goods:

  1. Accurate Measurements: Designed to maximize accuracy and minimize errors, allowing for a thorough inspection and quick detection of anomalies.
  2. Long-Term Reliability: Delivers consistent performance with extended use; regular calibration ensures peak efficiency.
  3. User-Friendly Design: Easy to use and suitable even for less experienced staff, reducing operational errors and ensuring precise measurements.
  4. On-Site Training: Comprehensive training to quickly make your operators independent and productive.

Using our measuring tools can significantly reduce customer complaints and help detect non-compliant supplies before they enter production.

These photos show satisfied customers who have benefited from using SAMA Tools instruments and our personalized training courses.

Recap

Inspecting incoming goods is a critical part of the production process. Using accurate and reliable measuring tools is vital to ensure that all materials meet the required standards, while minimizing the risk of errors that could impact the entire process. Companies that invest in high-quality tools not only increase their quality control efficiency but also reduce error-related costs and improve customer satisfaction.

Looking to eliminate costs caused by supplies that are non-compliant?

See how our measuring tools can help you avoid errors. Join the many companies already benefiting from SAMA Tools products—read their reviews here!

Contact us now: 0584/392342 – 392453

sales@samatools.it

 

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Roughness Measure and Control: A Definitive Guide

Roughness measure and control is a very important aspect to guarantee surface quality. It may seem to be a smooth flat surface, but it’s never 100% flat. This means surface roughness is never a value of zero. But, what is surface roughness?

What is surface roughness?

Surface roughness refers to the irregularities that appear on the surface of a piece as a result of mechanical processes such as milling, turning and grinding.
So, even the smoothest surface to the touch or flattest surface to the eye will have peaks and valleys that must be measured and controlled to make sure the desired surface finish is achieved.

Why is roughness measure and control so important?

Measuring and controlling the roughness of the surface is important because it can have a significant impact on different aspects of the piece, including:

  • The look and feel of the surface.
  • The functionality of the surface.
  • The adherence of any kind of coating on the surface.

Rotating machinery represent a good example to illustrate this importance. There are moving parts that require specific roughness for their proper operation.

If the roughness is too high, it may result in accelerated failure because of increased wear, while a roughness value below the requirements may result in loose parts that could affect machine operation.

How to measure surface roughness?

Surface roughness is usually measured by means of a probe that is commonly called a surface roughness profiler. This name is given to the probe because it moves in a straight line over an evaluation length selected on the surface and creates a profile of the irregularities found on such surface.

The profile created is composed of peaks and valleys, and the roughness parameters are calculated based on the height of those peaks and the depth of those valleys.

Probe roughness tester SA6230

The parameters of roughness

One of the most common ways to represent surface roughness is with the average roughness or “Ra”. The average roughness (Ra) is defined as the arithmetic average value of the absolute values within an evaluation length.

In other words, the value of Ra shows an average value of how much the profile moves up or down from an imaginary line that represents what is considered completely flat. This information means that larger values of Ra represent a higher roughness of the surface.

Here is some more information about roughness parameters.

However, measuring and controlling the average roughness (Ra) of the surface alone may not always be enough, as it has some limitations. For example, an Ra value does not make a difference for the type of irregularity. This makes it necessary to measure and control other roughness parameters, such as:

  • RPc to characterize a profile, which means counting the peaks.
  • The mean square roughness (Rq), which is the square root of the mean of deviations squares of the real profile within an evaluation length.
  • Rz, commonly used in sandblasting and which takes into account the average peak-valley difference of 10 points (5 peaks and 5 valleys) that deviate more within an evaluation length.
  • Rmax, which allows measuring the maximum depth of profile within an evaluation length.

Fortunately, all these values are not calculated by hand any more. Tools like our graphic roughness tester will do the job with high accuracy and without complications.

SA6260 Rugosimetro

 

Take a look at the video of graphic roughness tester

What are the applications of roughness measure and control?

As described above, surface roughness can have an impact on different aspects of a piece. Therefore, it is common to see roughness measure and control applications which need to reduce such an impact.

Some examples of surface roughness measure and control include:

Roughness tester SA6230

  • Automotive parts where controlling the friction is important, like in the case of brake and clutch systems.
  • Equipment for pharmaceutical and food processing, since they require low values of roughness to avoid particles to adhere on the surfaces of vessels and other elements to avoid contamination between batches.
  • Flooring preparation to avoid slippery surfaces in places like hospitals and other areas where a higher roughness on the floor surface is required.
  • Electronics and semiconductors for a better operation.
  • Machine tools production, especially those used for high-precision manufacturing such as gear cutting tools.
  • Hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, where avoiding the increase of friction is essential for proper operation.
  • Paper manufacturing industry.
  • Medical equipment.
  • Telescopic tubes.
  • Clothing manufacturing machinery.
  • Ceramics and porcelains.
  • Bearings, couplings and seals.
  • Casting molds and other casting equipment that require high precision surfaces.
  • Valves, pumps and other machinery.

One can easily see that many different industries can benefit from roughness measurement and control.

Moreover, it’s important to highlight that measuring and controlling surface roughness is an important step both in production and in quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in the laboratory.

Sometimes, pieces need to be processed in-line or on the field, and therefore measurements are needed outside the laboratory.

For those cases, our compact surface roughness tester and portable surface roughness tester definitely come in handy.

 

Rugosimetro SA6240

How to select a surface roughness measure and control tool?

Purchasing a surface roughness measure and control tool is very important, and it is also important to select the best option for the application at hand. There are different aspects that require consideration when selecting the right tool. The most relevant are:

  • Whether the specific values of the parameters are required or just a comparison is needed.
  • The number of parameters that need to be measured.
  • The need for a visualization of the profile.
  • The need for portability.
  • The need for a specific application such as coating after sandblasting.

Roughness meter calibration

The calibration report with reference to primary samples is carried out by using LAT certified specimens whose roughness values Ra, Rz etc are tested with the new roughness meters, or already in customer’s possession, to identify the relative deviation.

You can rely on us for the calibration of your instruments because we are ISO 9001 certified for the provision of the calibration service.

 

Calibration banner

If you want to check the roughness measure and control instruments, we offer a wide selection to choose from,  just click here.
However, if you are not sure or have any doubts about measuring and controlling surface roughness, we recommend you contact us and one of our technical experts will gladly help you.

 

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Quality control certificate or calibration report?

The quality control certificate and the calibration report show noticeable differences.

Quality control certificate

The main goal of the quality control in mass production (both industrial and craft) is to verify the right functions of an instrument according to the functional and performance conditions of the datasheet.

The producer carries out some tests, measurements, assessments and inspections finalise to declare the product’s conformity accordingly the datasheet.

This test is a quality control activity freely provided from the manufacturer to the customer.

 

Certificato di controllo, collaudo, conformità

Calibration report

 

ACCREDIA calibration certificate

It is a document issued only by a calibration laboratory licensed by ACCREDIA.

This document is officially recognize both in Italy and in all the European countries adhering to EA (European Cooperation for Accreditation).

An ACCREDIA calibration certificate testifies that an instrument has been calibrated accordingly to procedures mutually acknowledged by the primary institutes of competence.

ACCREDIA certificates relieve their holder by any obligation to demonstrate that the calibrations have been performed as provided by the reference standards.

This kind of certificates according to the quality System standard for metrological laboratory (see UNI CEI ED ISO/IEC 17025) and to procedure approved by ACCREDIA.

Instruments and samples certified ACCREDIA are usually employed as “primary reference standards” (e.g. gauge blocks) in order to calibrate and control other equipment.

 

 

 

Using instruments that are not properly calibrated during inspection may result in false information that may lead to keep a malfunctioning lift in operation. 

Read Lift Inspection and Instrument Calibration: The Case of Sidelmed S.P.A.

Laboratory test report with reference to national acknowledged samples (LTR)

It’s a document edited by metrological laboratories, thanks to which the reference to national acknowledged samples is ensured, without being licensed by the institution in charge responsible

bodies.

This type of documents is, generally, required to perform internal controls on measurements on field (e.g. pressure switches, multimeters, temperature meters, pressure gauges, calipers, dial

indicators, micro meters etc.)

The technical validity of these documents is based on the laboratory’s qualification, on the operator’s expertise and by the metrological procedures employed.

 

 

 

 

The customer can expressly require ACCREDIA Certificates and calibration report as paid services, differently from the quality control certificates.

Read on to find out how Ing. Ferrari S.p.A. optimizes the calibration process of measuring instruments!

Are your instruments correctly calibrated?

Let our specialists help you in case of doubts or necessity!

 

CONTACT US!

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