A business that has a problem in production, reliability, error detection or data verification will almost always suffer the negative consequences of the problem before it can be solved.
If your label verification system fails, you could end up supplying products to very scrutinised retailers like supermarkets. Too many failures can lead to EPWs or fines that could severely impact your profitability. Since over 20 years Sciotex has developed hundreds of vision systems that improve quality, speed, and competitive advantage for our clients.
Before you start looking for a vision system you should first get an expert to inspect your facility and all of its components. It is a good idea to have someone who has extensive knowledge of systems in-house. You should seek out external advice if you don’t have the right person. You must act quickly if the problem is affecting production or profitability.
Because new products are constantly being released, it’s worth continuing your research. It’s not necessarily that the most advanced or the most expensive parts are the best for your needs. You might find a better solution using less-expensive components in a new way with creative thinking.
Recently, we were asked to examine a flaw in a system that used a high-resolution state-of the-art camera. The images were not high enough quality for the software to process, although the reasons were not immediately obvious. We found that despite the high-spec camera costing a lot, we could get an excellent result by using a variety of low-resolution cameras, which were carefully placed and used with different software.
False economies are also a concern. False economies are also possible. There are many great off-the shelf vision systems that you can choose from.
Feasibility studies, line trials
Next, you need to do a feasibility study on the systems that you believe will be most effective. You don’t want to replace your vision system too often. Instead, you want something that can be maintained over time using technology that is easy to manage and update.
Once you have found a system that you like, test it. Your products are your business. You risk putting your entire business at stake by cutting corners in the quality system.
Maintenance and upgrades
The first step in your next business phase is to put a new system into place. It will become a trusted system that you can rely on and trust. How can you ensure it runs at its best?
Every system needs to be maintained and upgraded from time-to-time. It is not always possible to make your life easy today. Open source computer vision algorithms, for example, might be a cost-saving option that could work well for your system. How will you keep a program running if its creator ceases to work on it?
Also, think about the hardware. Is it difficult to replace mechanical parts of your system? Do you think this is something you can do yourself?
Vision systems may contain intricate parts of machinery that require engineering expertise to maintain. It can be costly to replace parts, so you shouldn’t risk your warranty or insurance by handling something that should be handled only by an expert.