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Luxury or necessity? Producers still aren't convinced that automatic inspection is a need, not a want.

Article Excerpt
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If one were to imagine a QC supplier's sales pitch to a nonwoven product manufacturer, it might go something like this:

QC Equipment Supplier: "Everyone should be using an automatic inspection system." End Product Manufacturer: "It's a luxury item I can't afford."

QC Equipment Supplier: "Can you afford not to be using one?"

THIS IS A FAIR QUESTION. After all, can product manufacturers put a price tag on the loss of a consumer due to an incorrect product count or a quality issue? The cost to sort and re-inspect or re-package products is significant and an automated quality control system minimizes or eliminates this need. It is also very costly to supply a package of defective products to the consumer.

"Considering how many diapers a baby uses or how many feminine products a woman uses, the quantities add up quickly," commented John Roberts, vice president of 20-15 Vision Solutions. "Preventing one lost customer, who usually creates two additional lost customers, per one million products produced can easily justify the cost of an inspection system. They have become extremely reliable, easy to use, very powerful, can be fully integrated into the factory automation system and are definitely cost-effective."

Although quality control is a hot topic, how many producers are actually putting their money where their mouth is? According to many market insiders, it remains difficult for customers to actually invest in a quality control system due to a reluctance to spend money on a "luxury" item. Although most large multinational roll goods producers have installed systems on their most important lines and continue to add additional lines each year, smaller players and private companies in developing areas still need to be educated about the value of inspection systems.

"These companies should evaluate much more than price when choosing a supplier of inspection systems," stated Bob Chiracosta of Natick, MA-based Cognex Corporation. "Any supplier can provide a basic system for about the same low price. But the value of a system consists of much more than alarming when a defect is found. When choosing a system, producers should do their homework and make an educated decision based on their current and future needs. Systems that are scaleable and upgradeable may be what are needed. It may make sense to buy state-of-the-art technology, at a low initial cost and be able to upgrade later as their needs develop."

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How Low Can You Go?

Producers' hesitance to invest in quality control has put even more pressure on equipment suppliers to provide systems with the lowest possible price tags. "The trend in the industry has been toward more automated inspection, but at lower prices," explained Philip Russo, president of Webview, Inc. "Competitive pressures mean that manufacturers have to keep expenses low."

Maureen Macken, marketing manager at Isra Surface Vision, agreed. "Nonwovens manufacturers are finding they need to be even...

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