When a gauging system is not performing as expected, we often hear the same dialogue. The operator, who has only his gauge to go by, says, ‘don’t tell me the parts are no good – they measure okay on my gauge’. The inspector replies: ‘Well, the parts don’t fit, so if your gauge says they are okay, your gauge is wrong.’
This is the natural reaction. People are quick to blame the instrument because it is easy to quantify. We can grab it, take it to the lab and test it. However, this approach will often fail to find the problem or find only part of it, because the instrument is only one-fifth of the total measuring system.
Promoted content: Does social media work for engineers – and how can you make it work for you?
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