Home Cases Veco Precision: inspection system improved with data analysis
Challenge

Challenge

Measurement system provided data but no reliable inspection results

Approach

Approach

Data analysis of 300 photos per product, new parameters and software upgrade

Result

Result

Percentage of correct judgements significantly increased, system scalable

About Veco Precision

Veco Precision has grown since 1934 into the world leader in micro-precision metal parts, specialising in inkjet nozzle plates: the most critical component of an inkjet printhead. The parts are produced for customers in the high-tech industry and must meet extremely precise specifications for nozzle shape, hole geometry and surface quality. Each nozzle plate is extensively tested for scratches, contamination and imperfections. Customers are setting increasingly high demands for dimensions and appearance, making manual inspection with the human eye structurally inadequate.

The challenge

Veco Precision was already working with an automated inspection system for surface inspection, but the system was not functioning properly. It collected a lot of data but could not draw sufficiently reliable conclusions from it. In addition, part of the quality control remained manual: employees assessed parts under a microscope. This resulted in inconsistent judgements because not everyone perceives the same errors.

The problem was three-fold: the measurement system was unreliable, the software could process too few parameters and there was no systematic approach to identify the most relevant parameters.

 

 

 

Our approach

A Symbol data scientist worked on-site at Veco Precision for three days a week over six months. The approach was phased and data-driven.

What was specifically done:

  • Data analysis performed
  • Most common problems identified
  • Relevant parameters implemented
  • Software upgrade
  • Correct percentage increased
  • Knowledge transfer secured

“Symbol has taught us not to look at what is possible, but what is necessary.”

Results

Metric Before After Improvement
Percentage correct measurement system judgement Insufficiently reliable Significantly increased Demonstrable
Parameters in measurement system 3 to 4 20 5x more
Consistency of inspection results Variable, manual work Uniform and automated Secured
Scalability to other products Not possible Ready for rollout Future-proof

From unreliable data to a measurement system that delivers consistent inspection results.
Veco Precision can now independently roll out similar improvement projects for other products, without external support.

Lessons learned

Having a lot of data is not the same as using the right data. Veco Precision shows that the value of a measurement system lies not in the amount of data it generates, but in the parameters that are chosen and the conclusions drawn from them. Focus on what is needed, not on what is possible.

The second insight: automated inspection is an investment in scalability. Manual inspection is limited by the number of people and their inconsistency. A reliable automated system grows with production and increasingly strict customer requirements.

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Do you recognise this in your organisation?

A measurement system that generates data but does not provide reliable inspection results. Quality control that is still too dependent on human judgement.

Symbol helps you identify the right parameters and make your measurement system reliable. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

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