Return on Investment

Improved Quality

Don't make out-of-spec product

Using SCAN_LASER means on-line measurement 100% of the time – operators are provided with warning alarms prior to the product breaching the defined tolerance limits.

The return on investment comes from a reduction in scrap. 

"Many tons of scrap are produced if the gauge is wrong"

For example, thickness measurements on a thin film process are such that the first time it is measured is when the first roll is weighed – many tons of scrap film if the gauge is wrong.

Using SCAN_LASER, an incorrect thickness would be detected in seconds.

A further return on the investment can come from avoiding any contract penalty charges associated with delivering product which is outside of the agreed tolerance.

Have the data available to answer customer queries and complaints

If your customer is using your product either as an end user or as part of a secondary process, then sooner or later they are going to have problems. But are their problems caused by you?

They may ring you up to complain and put the blame for some product deficiency on you – without proof to hand you may have to accept their arguments irrespective of merit – which means a replacement cost for you.

With SCAN_LASER historical data to hand, you can identify the batch and produce a report which at best exonerates you and at worst helps isolate the problem and shows that you are in control.

Don’t just measure what has happened, improve!

Using the SCAN_LASER Statistical Process Control module, you can monitor when your process is either ‘in control’ or ‘out of control’ – and if it is out of control aim to understand how the process can be improved. 

To facilitate this, SCAN_LASER can also measure process parameters and has interfaces for analog and digital signals, as well as any ‘intelligent’ devices that you may have – such as controllers and weigh scales.

Improved Productivity

Manufacture to tighter tolerances – give less product away

If a product has to be delivered to a minimum tolerance then delivering over that tolerance means that product is being given away to the client.

Using SCAN_LASER provides the confidence to manufacture to tighter tolerances – because you are measuring 100% of the time, you can reduce the ‘safety’ margin often used by production operators. 

For example, an average 0.1mm saving on a 4mm thick product means a saving of 2.5% of material costs.

Significantly reduce set-up and product changeover time

"Avoid the double negative effect - the equivalent of a Premiership six pointer!"

If your production lines each manufacture a range of products then reducing the time taken to change over between products and set the line back running can have a significant effect on the productivity.

Also, the time taken to bring the line under control has a double negative effect (the equivalent of a premiership six pointer!) – because not only is the time being wasted in terms of deliverable production, but you are also wasting money in terms of scrap production.

Using SCAN_LASER means that measurements are made immediately the line starts up – and are available in real-time as the operator adjusts the process to bring it under control. This can often significantly reduce the time it takes. 

See the example below.

Worked example

So how much difference does on-line measurement actually make? Here is a simple worked example that shows how you can easily calculate the benefits SCAN_LASER can bring.