Something unsettling is out there

It’s been an incredibly busy period for the Metrology team here at Coventry University. The need for a realistic approach to developing skills in the application of measurement has never been in such demand. Bridging the gap between the science and real manufacturing issues taking into account realistic business constraints is not as easy as this sentence suggests. Many companies don't yet see the problem, only seeing the cost which is an elusive itch in the business that no one can pin down to scratch. I was recently called into a company, who produce a very technologically advanced product, high added value, excellent quality and performance and who are valued by customers. Bemused I asked why they had called me in to consult. Their problem was inefficiency compared to their competitors, very low margins and therefore a high risk business strategy.  They described it as their 'Black hole'. They knew something was out there unsettling their universe, they suspected there is an answer they should know to a question they don't even know how to ask. They were self-aware enough to know that whatever that question was would help develop their business to a higher level. They knew something existed that was holding them back because of the effects it had on things they could see, but they could not pin it down. In this case the indications were in their process control data, and results from lean interventions as well as other clues. Why black hole? Because one of the reasons we know black holes exist is because they disrupt what we expect to see in visible things even when we cannot see the black hole itself.

Metrology and measurement is not all about pass or fail or even process control, yes they are important, we all want quality, but what about cost. Why collect all that data and not utilise it to feed back into manufacturing improvement, design development and most important of all business intelligence that gives you an incredible edge over those who don't yet know the question. 

The company involved in my consultation wanted to understand how they could utilise measurement and metrology to help firstly understand why they did not have the process control they superficially thought they had. And secondly how could they utilise metrology to power decision making and continuous improvement. I confidently predict they are on the path to delivering those ambitions and not just because they talked to me, but because they questioned themselves and opened what most see as a Pandora ’s Box that is best kept closed. Often accepting the challenge is the first step in gaining advantage.