Process control tools

W.J. Arbegast, Using Process Forces as a Statistical Process Control Tool for Frichon Stir Welds, Friction Stir Welding and Processing III, K.V. Jata, et al., Ed., TMS (The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society), 2005... 

The drawbacks to these types of process analysis mean that they are of limited use as in-process control tools. The first improvement is simply the movement of the testing from the laboratory to the manufacturing area. This is... 

The colloidal properties of emulsions are responsible for the quality of many foods. Ultrasound is sensitive to most of the properties of interest and can be used as both a research and a process-control tool by food scientists. As a research tool, ultrasonic measurements are particularly powerfid as they can be used to generate information not readily available by other methods - importantly, physical state, particle size, concentration, and flocculation in concentrated and optically opaque emulsions. In a process environment, ultrasonic measurements can be effected noninvasively in process lines and are therefore compatible with the stringent hygiene and cleaning requirements of food production. 

In fluid bed agglomerators, spray nozzle height can often be used as a process control tool. This is because the height affects the intensity of the spray flux as well as the time taken for the binder droplets to impact on powder particles. The higher the nozzle is above the fluidized bed, greater the footprint, and hence, lower the spray flux. 

The salt spray test is a useful process control tool. For example, if a given product, when plated, coated, or jjainted... 

Also printed on the plots are averaged and standard deviation values of the displayed area. In some applications using scatter as an on-line process control tool, these values can be a signal to correct the process or discard the sample. 

The accepted method of nondestructive testing used to control the underfill process is SAM. The thin layer allows this technique to detect voids in the underfill material, which when located near the solder interconnections can be responsible for a significant loss of thermal mechanical fatigue reliability. X-ray techniques can be used to monitor the density of the underfill material, specifically, the distribution of filler material within the layer under the die. Density variations can indicate a larger distribution of underfill mechanical and physical properties, which may affect long-term reliability performance of the solder joints. Quantitative image analysis can be coupled into SAM and x-ray analysis data to provide valuable process control tools for the factory floor. 

This chapter discusses the outlook for the ACOMP technology s use as an advanced process control tool in polymer manufacturing. Because ACOMP has been ntilized snccessfnlly in... 

Control. In the control phase, we implement process control tools that can manage and monitor the process on an ongoing basis. The DMAIC process is now in full operation, but it does not stop here. The continuous monitoring of the process will not only assure the success of this change process, but it will also identify future opportunities for improvement. 

Despite an initial hesitation and wait-and-see attitude of the chemical industry toward the end of the last century, NIR spectroscopy is now certainly the vibrational spectroscopic technique that is most frequently applied for reaction control and has the largest installation figures in terms of in-line/ on-line process analytical applications. One exception in this respect was certainly the petrochemical industry. In this branch, the value of the NIR technique has been recognized very early with the consequence that its implementation as on-line process control tool has led to a drastic improvement in plant operation by improved process stability and more accurate blending procedtnes. Primarily, the last-mentioned factor has contributed toward a significant increase of profit due to a drastic reduction of the so-called giveaway. ... 

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