Proto Labs : How Data-driven Manufacturing Unlocks Speed and Transparency during Injection Molding Process

Improving Part Outcomes with Critical-to-Quality Specs

Many of the parts we manufacture have at least one measurement that's mission critical. Maybe the parts won't work in an assembly unless a planned hole is within spec. Typical CAD models provide an opportunity to include specific dimensions, but what if you could tell your manufacturer early-on that dimension X is the one that makes or breaks a part? That's where Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) comes in.

The CTQ specifications that you include in your quote and CAD model help to guide us during manufacturing, saving another critical dimension: TIME. We can often tell you if it's possible for us to make your part before the mold is cut.

CTQ is also an important element of our digital manufacturing processes because we use these specs to evaluate initial runs of your parts. Let's say that your parts require sample qualification or part validation. CTQ becomes even more crucial at that point because the data that flows from those initial shots can predict the future tolerances for those critical dimensions, revealing the suitability of end-use parts for a given assembly.

I bet you're worried that all these verifications will slow down lead times, but here's the thing. While those measurements do take a while to do when they are done by hand, digital manufacturing uses technology to speed processing. To get around the time factor, we have inline Coordinate-measuring Machines (CMMs) that automate the process-another huge timesaver.