In-line inspection services
Historically, quality control inspections were done after a product was completed and ready to use. Unfortunately, this method proved unnecessarily expensive because defects that occurred early in the manufacturing process were more difficult to correct than those that occurred later. As a result, in-line quality control became the standard method for reducing or avoiding costly manufacturing defects. In-line inspections involve using the manufacturing process itself to monitor and correct problems as they occur. Generally, the inspections are performed to sets of tolerances for each part of the manufacturing process. In-line inspections catch small problems that might otherwise fly under the radar and identify minor manufacturing defects that can gradually worsen as a tool wears out, saving time and labor. Since they are performed during the manufacturing process, they are also known as During Production Inspections, or DUPRO. These inspections often augment factory audits, which contain processes designed to reduce errors in shipping, like pre-shipment inspections. Together, these quality control inspections are largely responsible for a manufacturer’s success because they prevent avoidable defects before, during, and after production.
