Kenmode's Precision Metal Stamping Blog

Not long ago we featured a blog article about the use of palladium as an alternative to gold for plating electronic components due to the rising cost of gold.  It's Time to Consider Palladium for Electronics Plating -- Again.

Highly specialized and regulated industries, such as the medical device industry, demand adherence to their own preferred standards for manufacturing quality.  These industry-specific standards require that metal stamping companies keep current on a global scale.

Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping's commitment to quality is evident in this new video.  Get a behind-the-scenes look at the people, processes, and technology Kenmode employs to help ensure zero-defect metal stampings.

The Importance of Following MSA and GR&R Quality Standards

It’s tempting to think that all precision metal stamping companies and component manufacturers with the right certifications are doing the right thing with their quality measurement programs, but that assumption may be wrong.  Although the Automotive Industry Action Group long ago standardized Measurement System Analysis (MSA) for its suppliers, and other industries have adopted similarly high standards, both academic research and real-life experience indicate that the theories of MSA aren’t always put into practice.  

The theory is that all measurements contain error, so MSA is employed to manage error and ensure quality in both the manufacturing processes and the products that result.  The five parts of MSA are bias, stability, linearity, and gauge repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R).

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) is a very important tool in the quality toolbox for manufacturers of complex products.  All too often, however, manufacturers have already set their design guidelines in stone before turning to their metal stamping suppliers for input on tool design.  As a result, the manufacturer may miss opportunities to create a more robust product, reduce costs, and even risks part failure.

Quality Matters:  Learning from the Turnaround in the U.S. Auto Industry

For decades, the U.S. auto industry lagged behind foreign brands in quality surveys, until U.S. autos took over the first place slot in 2010 for the first time in 24 years in the annual survey of owners of new cars and trucks conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.  Given that the U.S. automakers were also contending with one of the largest recessions on record, their quality gains are even more remarkable.

What has made the difference?  While quality is a highly complex subject, it is clear that U.S. automakers have made a commitment to quality that extends to the smallest detail in the manufacturing process -- down to the metal stampings that go into many automotive parts.

A common obstacle to a successful market launch is the transition of medical products from design to manufacture, with issues often leading to unnecessary costs and significant delays. Several tips and techniques can be implemented to smooth the transition from the product development stage to full-scale production, and ensure products are delivered to market on time and on budget.

Precision metal stampings are a critical component of so many products.  Automotive components, medical devices, electronic parts – all contain metal stampings.  For the part or the device to function properly, the stamping needs to be free of defects and of perfect quality.

This is a big year for us at Kenmode, and we could think of no way better than to celebrate with our customers and friends!

 SPC.  You’ve heard the acronym.  Some customers, especially in the automotive industry, require it. But do you know why it’s critical for metal stamping manufacturers to incorporate Statistical Process Control (SPC) in all their quality control processes?  In a word: consistency.