TORQUE FOCUS QC LABORATORY & INSPECTION
OWLETT-JATON > READY FOR INSPECTION Quality is king. Torque Magazine speaks with key suppliers about their quality processes, starting with Owlett-Jaton…
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new laboratory at Owlett‐Jaton’s Head Office provided an opportunity for the prominent wholesale supplier to improve its existing quality facilities into a single dedicated fit‐for‐purpose department, located within its Stone operation. The significant expansion allowed for the incorporation of two dedicated rooms, one for sample preparation and limited re‐working of products, the other offering a clean environment for performing inspection and conducting investigations on fasteners and fixings. ISO 9001:2015 accredited, its purchasing department carries out rigorous checks on manufacturers before engaging, to ensure products conform to the quality standards required. Regular audits focus on what quality controls and traceability factories have within the production process. Checks include how the raw material is stored, the specific grades of materials they can produce, even what type of housekeeping they have on the production floor. These checks, coupled with assurances from the manufacturers, help to ensure that the products which reach the lab, pass any quality control checks carried out. Owlett‐Jaton’s goods inwards inspection process is rigorous, spot‐checking ~50% of inbound fasteners, ensuring they conform to the relevant national and international manufactur‐ ing standards. A bespoke fastener‐orientated inspection system is employed; the system provides the dedicated goods inwards inspector with all the information he needs to effectively assess
Keyence IM-7000 Image Dimension Measuring System is among OJ’s optical inspection equipment
the products without having to reference the applicable manu‐ facturing standard. The inspection system is integrated with the purchasing supplier approval system, providing the inspector with insight as to which manufacturers or products they should focus on if required. The optical inspection equipment includes both a Keyence IM‐ 7000 Image Dimension Measuring System together with a more traditional Mitutoyo shadowgraph (pictured left), facilitating the inspection of parts to a high level of accuracy. Owlett‐Jaton also carries out on‐site hardness determination to Rockwell B&C scales, and a significant range of the traditional ring, plug, and caliper gauges are still invaluable and enable inspection of a large sample of incoming products. Critical fasteners are sourced from reputable approved manu‐ facturers and are supplied with certification, typically a 3.1 to DIN‐EN‐10204. The quality department is also equipped and have access to NAMAS (The National Measurement Accredita‐ tion Service) approved test facilities which allow more advanced product verification documents to be produced, such as an ISIR (Initial Sample Inspection Report). Customers at enquiry stage can also request a PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) submission from the manufacturer, an essential requirement for the supply of automotive components. www.owlett-jaton.com
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