Best Practices for Monitoring Environmental Conditions in SMT Lines

One of the key methods to prevent Printed Circuit Board (PCB) defects is by managing the environmental conditions within the factory. Without proper control of humidity and temperature on the manufacturing floor, expensive components—and potentially entire assemblies—can be compromised, leading to quality issues and additional costs. Humidity monitoring High levels of humidity in a manufacturing…

Understanding the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)

The concept of the Cost of Non-Quality (CNQ), also known as the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) or Poor-Quality Costs (PQC), is critical in any industry concerned with maintaining high standards of product quality and customer satisfaction. CNQ represents the expenses companies incur when their products or services fail to meet quality standards. These are…

Understanding the FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule: Implications and Compliance Strategies for Businesses

The US FDA’s final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods (Food Traceability Final Rule) establishes traceability recordkeeping requirements beyond those in existing regulations for companies who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). The new requirements identified in the final rule will allow for faster…

Making sense of the FSMA Act

The finalization of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204(d) is approaching fast, and it’s time to start preparing for the next execution phase. In November 2022, a key piece of FSMA will come into play for many manufacturers. Known as the Food Traceability Proposed Rule, the goal of 204 is to create visibility &…