Using Digital Processes to Enhance Safety and Quality

April 1, 2024
Explore quality control approaches in small to mid-size factories as well as the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of safety and reliability in manufacturing processes with Bryan Bauw, COO at Pico MES.

Safety and reliability in manufacturing—especially when it comes to the practices and challenges faced by small and mid-sized factories—is critical. Surprisingly, many factories integral to the aviation and auto sectors still rely on outdated methods, including pen-and-paper-based quality checks, which can leave room for errors.

Pico MES COO Bryan Bauw talked with Machine Design about quality control approaches in smaller factories to lessons learned from incidents like the Alaska Airlines blowout, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of safety and reliability in manufacturing processes. He helps us uncover perspectives and strategies to enhance safety, reliability, efficiency and quality in manufacturing for smaller enterprises.

READ MORE: Computer Vision Transforms Production and Quality Control

In this first of a two-part series, Bauw talks about the three phases of digitalization, including the pitfalls of pen and paper quality control, the challenges for smaller manufacturers when it comes to safety and reliability, and the approaches to digitizing.

View Part Two in the two-part video interview with Bryan Bauw, COO at Pico MES.

About the Author

Sharon Spielman | Technical Editor, Machine Design

As Machine Design’s technical editor, Sharon Spielman produces content for the brand’s focus audience—design and multidisciplinary engineers. Her beat includes 3D printing/CAD; mechanical and motion systems, with an emphasis on pneumatics and linear motion; automation; robotics; and CNC machining.

Spielman has more than three decades of experience as a writer and editor for a range of B2B brands, including those that cover machine design; electrical design and manufacturing; interconnection technology; food and beverage manufacturing; process heating and cooling; finishing; and package converting.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: @sharonspielman

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Facebook: Machine Design

YouTube: @MachineDesign-EBM

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