Since 1980, automotive manufacturers have used non-contact measurement systems to better protect the quality and efficiencies of their processes. Collecting the data, however, is only the first step in understanding what the data can tell you and how you can use it to drive solutions for your production.

Who Are We?

We are an independent engineer servicing company that focuses on developing the best dimensional control platforms and strategy for your company.  Process regulation is the most important aspect to any manufacturing establishment. At TPL, we focus on three levels of dimensional control: Containment, Variation Control, and Variation Reduction.  Through our systemically philosophy and methodology, we will make sure that your manufacturing facility has the tools and know-how to capture all three levels of dimensional control. 

Containment

What do we mean when we say containment?  In any manufacturing process, you will have occasions where your parts do not conform and you are left with a defective product.  In order to contain the product from traveling further in your process, certain actions must be taken to ensure that those defects are stopped at the sight of the faulty process.  The first step in achieving this control is with the proper tools.  For example, certain prox switches can detect the presence of a part or feature in your process.  In automotive, manufacturers will use metrology measurement systems, like Perceptron, to inspect every part as it is being built and program that unit to send an alarm when a rejected measurement is present.  Although these systems are designed to do much more than containment, they certainly can be a reliable source for containing almost any non-conforming part issues.

Variation Control

Variation control can be one of the trickiest challenges in any dimensional control strategy.  When we talk about variation control vs. variation reduction, control would be reoccurring spikes in measurement data that are spaced out or mean shifts in data, whereas variation reduction would be on-going variation contributing to a continuously poor-quality deviation or 6sigma. 

The reason control is one of the most complicated aspects of our dimensional control strategy is because sometimes these reoccurring events might be spaced out in time or can seem to set on randomly through a yearly production of a product therefore it makes it more challenging to pin point exactly where the defect originates.  Our job is to help you develop an action plan that will systemically weed through the noise and point directly to the fault in the process so you can get back to producing high numbers at the highest standard of quality. 

Variation Reduction and Nominal Product Development

Many things like metal deviations, plant environment fluctuations, and supplier changes will cause variation in our products, but how much they vary can be a big influence on day-to-day production numbers, reducing rework, reducing scrap, and reducing warranty costs for your business. 

In order to achieve the highest standard of quality control, it is critical to have not only the correct tools but the correct, proactive strategy in reducing variation by the use of on-going case studies, regular monitoring, and, in some cases, predictive software to anticipate fluctuations in production.

Our Mission

DRIP is a term used in engineering that describes a collection of data as being rich in data, but poor in information (Data Rich Information Poor). Our mission is to make sure that you never have to experience DRIP. We make sure that you are not only collecting the data, but you understand how to pull all the important information that is hiding just behind the numbers.

What We focus on