By Ansley Williams and Patrick Utecht
What is Quality Control?
Quality Control is an integral part of the manufacturing process. However, the manufacturing quality control process looks a little different at HaF compared to other companies. Some companies use statistics to determine how many parts they need to inspect from a batch. This limited inspection gives the company confidence that there will only be an acceptable amount of defective parts without shaking the customers’ confidence in their product. At HaF, however, every single piece of equipment is checked to ensure it arrives at the customer site exactly the way it was designed. This standard of excellence in the quality control process is still maintained even if components were fabricated outside of HaF.
Who is Involved in the Quality Control Process?
HaF Equipment is passionate about having the whole team involved throughout the entire quality control process. Design engineers, project engineers, and service engineers all inspect each piece of equipment before it ships out. Even the sales engineers have a hand in the inspection process. We ensure our team actually interacts with the equipment they design, which gives them a deeper understanding of the equipment they work with every day. The team members involved sign off on their equipment after inspection. This step in the manufacturing quality control process holds the project team accountable for the work they have done.
How Do We Perform Quality Control at HaF?
The quality control process at HaF begins with inspection sheets. These quality control inspection sheets are prepared for each piece of equipment that HaF designs, manufactures, and ships out. By using these forms, HaF ensures that everyone performs a quality control inspection in the same way. This is helpful for providing consistent data even when multiple project teams are assessing several different types of equipment. In addition to providing internal accountability, these reports are shared with the customer. HaF’s level of quality control is completed for both fabrication and assembly.
Fabrication
This is where all individual components are created, prior to assembly, and are checked to make sure they match the engineer’s design, function properly, and use the proper materials
- Do the critical dimensions of the equipment match what is on the drawing?
- Are the welds free of pits, cracks, and crevices?
- Are the welds destained and continuous?
- Do the gaskets seal properly?
- Are components painted where they are supposed to be?
- Do finishes match what is called out in the drawings?
Assembly
This is where all components are checked to make sure they are present on the equipment, assembled correctly, and functioning properly.
- Are all components present and assembled in the correct orientations?
- Do compressed air components function and seal properly?
- Do electrical components power on and work correctly?
- Does the bolt finish match the construction grade?
- Are fasteners all tightened down properly?
- Are pipe fittings sealed properly?
- Are washers included where specified and required?
- Are all necessary safety stickers adhered in the correct places?
HaF is Dedicated to Customer Success
Team HaF understands the importance of quality control. That is why if a team member notices something is not covered in the quality control form — the form is changed! HaF does not operate at status quo. The manufacturing quality control process is ever evolving, so our team challenges themselves to be better than the day before! We value the success of our customers and want to bring them the very best equipment. HaF starts the quality control process as the equipment is in fabrication and follows it through to assembly. If something in fabrication or assembly needs to be corrected, action is taken immediately to confirm the equipment has met the elite level of standards HaF has in place. At HaF the quality control process is a team effort. Everyone is expected to be involved and responsible for the duration of the project.
ABOUT HaF
HaF Equipment offers turnkey services for projects big and small. Our team understands the concerns of our customers and takes the time to listen. We develop a plan and communicate along the way. If you need someone you can trust and want to eliminate the stress of managing all the details of your next project, HaF is Ready To Connect.
CONTACT US today to discuss your next project and how our team can help from concept to system solution.
Ansley Williams
Ansley Williams is a Design Engineer for HaF Equipment. She has been working as an engineer in the material handling industry for one year, and received her masters degree in mechanical engineering in 2022.
Patrick Utecht
Patrick Utecht is the Design Engineering Manager for HaF Equipment. He has been a driving force of innovation for HaF Equipment for over 19 years.