ISO Quality End to End Solutions

ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognised standard for quality management systems. The standard was published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in September 2015.

The ISO 9001 standard sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is designed to help organisations ensure that they consistently meet the needs and expectations of their customers while also improving their internal processes.

The standard can be attained by all types of organisations, including manufacturers. In order to gain an ISO accreditation, the organisation must pass a comprehensive audit process by an accredited certification body.

When using an ISO 9001: 2015 accredited company, customers are more likely to benefit from their service.

Because of the standards set by the accreditation, to maintain it, accredited companies must continually improve their management systems. This results in customers receiving a higher quality product and service; products are more likely to be manufactured on time and on budget, with minimised waste. Customers may also be able to give feedback to be implemented. All of this results in greater customer satisfaction.

Production Part Approval Process, or PPAP manufacturing, is not an accreditation like ISO 9001 but rather a standardised methodology. This is used in the automotive industry, amongst many others, to ensure that the production of parts or components meets specific quality and reliability standards.

PPAP parts are produced to engineering specifications - and can be consistently produced to these standards.

There are 5 levels of PPAP submission – ranging from a foundational level (Part Submission Warrant Only) to the highest standard (PSW with Product Samples and Complete Support Data):

1. Part Submission Warrant Only - At this level, the supplier submits a minimal Part Submission Warrant (PSW), which is a document that provides an overview of the part and the production process.
2. Part Submission Warrant with Product Samples and Limited Supporting Data - In addition to the Part Submission Warrant, which contains more information than Level 1, the supplier provides product samples to the customer. These samples are inspected and tested to verify that they meet the specified requirements.
3. Part Submission Warrant with Product Samples and Complete Supporting Data – Level 3 includes all the information required for Level 2, plus more. Additional data supplied to the customer includes customer engineering approval, control plans, process flow diagrams, design failure mode and effects analysis (design FMEA) as well as measurement system analysis.
4. Part Submission Warrant and Other Requirements as Defined by Customer – A complete data list features 18 requirements; for Level 4 submission, the supplier must submit a PSW, and have all 18 requirements available to deliver upon at the customer’s request.
5. Part Submission Warrant with Product Samples and Complete Supporting Data – Level 5 is a complete submission that, rather than being sent to the customer for review, will be reviewed at the supplier’s facility.

Despite the customer having a role to play in PPAP submission, the supplier is ultimately responsible for PPAP.

A FARO Arm is a type of portable Coordinate Measuring Machine, or CMM. FARO Arms are used for measuring and inspecting 3D objects and surfaces, and can be used to verify the quality of products. They can also be used for reverse engineering. 

The articulated arm of the CMM can be moved and positioned for accurate measurements of complex components; this collects data that is processed and analysed to create a detailed 3D model or to verify the dimensional accuracy of the object being measured.

The FARO Arm inspection employs a touch probe to collect data points on an object's surface, which is then converted into a digital 3D model. The arm's articulating joints allow for easy manoeuvring, enabling measurements at different angles and positions.

They are available in multiple working volumes and with a number of rotational axes for all types and sizes of parts.

Using FARO Arms can be incredibly beneficial to the manufacturing process. They allow manufacturers to measure parts accurately and quickly. Since they’re portable, they’re also suitable for operation in a variety of environments, unlike traditional CMMs. FARO Arms can perform a full digital analysis through compatible software, allowing for operators to review the data and produce inspection reports to document and share.