Customers’ rising quality expectations are forcing industry to apply ISO compliant production processes and to increase process reliability as a whole instead of relying only on final inspection in order to achieve a 0% failure rate in the final product. Inspection generally involves examining an object, device or facility to ensure that it is free from defects.
Inspections thus play a key role in examining and assessing the quality of industrial products and processes. Product quality is assessed by examining the surface geometry in 2D and 3D, the surface properties of an object (characteristics, texture) and its volumetric properties under static and dynamic considerations. Research in the field of process quality is primarily aimed at product identification and the verification of simulation results.
Research projects provided the basis for establishing a wide network of national and international research partners and state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure for efficient and quick proof of concept studies. The laboratory infrastructure includes a cutting-edge image processing lab and flexible equipment for 2D and 3D shape measurement. The research network provides access to sensor technologies far exceeding the capabilities of visual sensors (e.g. thermal cameras, x-ray, CT).
The research activities in the field of product inspection benefit from synergies with the Space Technology and Acoustics group in the area of multi-sensor quality assurance.