Towards Zero-Defect Manufacturing: a review on measurement-assisted processes and their technologies

Abstract

No system is perfect or free of errors. For companies to reach zero defects in a highly volatile and uncertain environment, emerging technologies, as well as human involvement, are needed. The tenant is to measurement-assist the manufacturing system to predict and prevent deviations in dynamic conditions. This article reviews the Measurement-assisted manufacturing (MAM) literature with the aim to (i) reveal key technologies and processes for MAM, (ii) identify current practices and their weaknesses, and (iii) propose future directions. Results show that despite MAM and Zero-Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) being treated separately, they are deeply interrelated and combining both strategies can lead to true sustainability. The literature indicated that future work must be placed in ‘hardware’ as instrument operation and equipment maintenance, and ‘software’, as data analytics and geometry assurance strategies.