Quality Quest of a TQM Approach for Automated Fastening

Our current emphasis of Total Quality Management Concepts provides strong encouragement for process control in lieu of inspection. The implementation of automated fastening processes gives an excellent opportunity to employ this concept, but it must be considered up front during the initial planning and development phases. This paper will review how Grumman has taken this approach with some of our automated fastening processes with an emphasis on Robotic assembly and automated riveting operations.

The process control approaches that are discussed include Statistical Process Control (SPC), periodic verification, and built-in sensors. The SPC techniques emphasize capability studies and the use of capability indexes. The periodic verification procedures include accuracy checks of the automated hole locating and drilling operations. In addition, the use of built-in sensors to monitor critical parameters are reviewed.

Concluding remarks include a commentary on the problems relating to reducing inspection for automated processes and recommendations for overcoming these problems.