By guiding operators though the assembly process, SQS ensures high-quality products, full traceability and little room for operator error or oversight.
For those who may not know, Atlas Copco’s Scalable Quality Solution (SQS) is our error-proofing software for product assembly processes. As part of the Industry 4.0 and Smart Connected Assembly concepts, this software future-proofs your processes and addresses current challenges in assembly, such as prolonged downtime, high rework and quality issues.
An extremely important factor in SQS’s ability to error-proof is through part verification. This feature overcomes the issue of human error by identifying and storing specific product numbers that are later used to ensure that the correct parts are being used during assembly.
Multiple Identifiers
SQS is able to store information about a product entering the station by using multiple identifiers. Operators are guided to scan the barcode, serial number, VIN or model type of the part before the torque tool is activated, which ensures that the correct part is being used in that sequence. The importance of multiple identifiers and part verification itself lies in operator influence. It’s inevitable; mistakes will be made on the assembly line. Humans influence build quality whether they mean to or not.
SQS uses multiple identifiers to ensure that operators are using the correct product parts in the correct sequence through part verification.
Full traceability
Another massive benefit to SQS’s part verification feature is that it also provides full traceability for one single cell or an entire plant floor. When an operator scans a part barcode, model type or serial number, the system will compare previous part numbers and verify compliance. Once a product identifier is scanned, SQS documents the unique identifier for later use or reference. Torque data is collected locally on SQS and can be easily accessed.
These steps must be completed before operators are able to move onto the next process, ensuring that there’s no chance of operator error or oversight. Because we know this to be true: the later that an error is caught, the higher the cost will be to correct the mistake.
Part Verification Summarized
Atlas Copco’s SQS software is a complete, comprehensive solution for error-proofing your assembly processes while the world transitions into the Industry 4.0 mindset. Our mission for our SQS software is this: we’re striving for quality improvement in production areas. Through part verification, multiple identifiers are used to ensure that the correct product parts are being used in a desired sequence before being able to move forward through the build process. With full traceability of your assembly process, you can easily locate torque data, results and issues down the line.
If you’re interested in learning more about the features of SQS, check out our ‘SQS at home’ video series on our YouTube channel! Check out the SQS at Home webpage here. For more information on software solutions from Atlas Copco, contact us today.