Manufacturing Quality Assurance
Client: Mine Safety Sciences
Project: Develop an Automated Battery Test Stand
ADS developed the Primary Battery/Cell Test System
(PBTS). The PBTS is a data acquisition, control and
report generation system for Multiple Battery/Cell
Testing.
It consists of one or more Voltage Monitoring and Control Systems (VCMS)
connected via Ethernet to a Test Generation and Control System (TGCS).
The VMCS is based on IOTech off-the-shelf components and standard PC
components. Both the VMCS and TGCS utilize MS-Windows operating
systems and software written in LabVIEW.
Client: Northrop Grumman - Product Quality Laboratory
Project: Upgrade the facility monitoring program for the Project Quality
Laboratory
ADS provided a turn-key solution to upgrade
their facility monitoring program which includes
system engineering and integration, software
development, wiring, cabling and installation, as well as documentation. We
used distributed data acquisition modules to monitor temperatures,
pressures and other environment measurements throughout their facility.
Client: Pepsi-Cola Quality Control Laboratories
Project: Automate Quality Control Tests Performed on Pepsi Products
The Pepsi Quality Control Laboratories required
new, sophisticated instruments to measure
carbonation, air and oxygen, pH and total acidity
in cans and bottles. With its sister companies,
Terriss and LSE, ADS developed the SmartTesterPC
to fulfill this requirement. SmartTesterPC is a
computer-based system that has its own power
supply and multiple sensors for taking measurements.
Also, ADS developed SmartLab, a product that helps laboratory operators
and managers make quick decisions about their production process.
SmartLab simultaneously displays collected data in real-time from
instruments and produces meaningful management reports.
Currently, the SmartTesterPC and SmartLab are installed in bottling plants
across the United States and worldwide. Several bottling plants are using
SmartLab to handle their Laboratory Information Management System
(LIMS) requirements.
Client: Rheem Water Heaters
Project: Water Heater Data Acquisitions
ADS developed and built a water heater data
acquisition system for lifecycle testing, using
LabVIEW. The system measures and controls
both gas and electric water heaters. It tests
and monitors the corrosive effect of hard water
on heaters in remote locations.
Client: Patton Electronics, Co.
Project: Create a Test Suite for Calibration & Performance Testing of
Network Protocol Devices
ADS implemented LabVIEW software in conjunction
with an Aglient Power Supply and BIT error rate test
equipment to calibrate and test the performance of
network protocol devices for Patton Electronics. The original source code for
these was written in C. ADS had to reverse engineer the C code to develop
requirements and a design that was approved by Patton Electronics to
ensure the interoperability and comparability with their current operations.
ADS worked very closely with Patton engineers, technicians and program
managers to capture the correct requirements. In turn, ADS provided the
most efficient architecture that ensures flexibility and usability of the test
suite created for product testing.
Client: DRS - Signal Solutions, Inc. (formerly BAE Systems)
Project: Build a Regression Test Control System for Calibrating and
Testing Military RF Radios
ADS re-engineered a regression test control system
to calibrate and test military RF radios. ADS reverse
engineered C code to write the requirements and
architect the design that provided full regression
testing. Once the requirements and design were agreed upon, ADS
implemented the LabVIEW code to complete the testing and calibration of RF
radios. ADS integrated Aglient, Marcooni and Textronics test equipment, as
well as web page configurations to ensure the interoperability and capability
of their current system.
Client: CIENA Corporation
Project: Develop a LabVIEW-Based System to Automate the Environ-
mental Stress Screen Process for their Manufactured Boards
ADS developed a LabVIEW-based system to automate
Ciena's environmental stress screening process for
their manufacturing boards. Traditional manual testing
was labor intensive and prone to human error. Ciena
uses the ADS system to easily and reliably test product environmental
quality. Using LabVIEW and National Instruments products, the team rapidly
developed a system that is flexible, well-controlled, fail-safe via paging and
allows operators platform-independent, remote access. The system
provides Ciena with important baseline information regarding the quality of
their manufacturing; information that can be used to improve product
quality, increase throughput and enhance future products.
Client: PerkinElmer Fluid Sciences
Project: Develop an Unmanned, Automated Test Rig for Destructive
Testing of Airplane Components
PerkinElmer (formerly EG&G) has looked to ADS since
1997 for our expertise in PLC, SCADA and LabVIEW
programming along with motion and temperature
control engineering. ADS developed an unmanned,
automated test rig for destructive testing of airplane
components. This system was featured in the December 1999 issue of
Control Engineering Magazine. Currently, we maintain a relationship with
PerkinElmer through a support contract.
Client: Stowe Woodward
Project: Upgrade the Stowe Woodward's PressManager application
Stowe Woodward has two major Windows programs for
roll cover performance analyses for industrial roll covers.
PressManager utilizes a computer model of the paper
machine to match the roll covers to the machine clothing
to produce the right conditions for maximum dewatering, bulk, smoothness
and other quality concerns. The Heat Transfer Program (HTR) predicts roll
cover performance. Both programs predict results for maximum pressure,
dwell time, maximum temperature, nip width, pressure impulse and required
coolant. However, each program uses a different algorithm to calculate
these parameters.
ADS upgraded the PM application, written in LabVIEW, by developing new
features. Some of these new features included making changes in the
functionality of the PM and enhancing, creating or modifying certain screens
for the PM application. One of these changes included upgrading the PM
application to use the algorithms from the HTR program.
Client: BAE Systems - Battery Technology Center (BTC)
Project: Develop a new Primary Battery Test System (PBTS)
ADS is developing the new automated Primary
Battery Test System for BAE Systems - BTC.
The new system provides a means to collect, process, monitor and report
data generated during battery and cell discharge tests. The new system will
have considerable impact on the test operation by providing better
communication functions, better test control, more data collection and report
enhancement. The output of the PBTS is made available to a report
generator for standardized reports.
Client: Mine Safety Sciences
Project: Develop an Automated Battery Test Stand
ADS developed the Primary Battery/Cell Test System
(PBTS). The PBTS is a data acquisition, control and
report generation system for Multiple Battery/Cell
Testing.
It consists of one or more Voltage Monitoring and Control Systems (VCMS)
connected via Ethernet to a Test Generation and Control System (TGCS).
The VMCS is based on IOTech off-the-shelf components and standard PC
components. Both the VMCS and TGCS utilize MS-Windows operating
systems and software written in LabVIEW.
Client: Northrop Grumman - Product Quality Laboratory
Project: Upgrade the facility monitoring program for the Project Quality
Laboratory
ADS provided a turn-key solution to upgrade
their facility monitoring program which includes
system engineering and integration, software
development, wiring, cabling and installation, as well as documentation. We
used distributed data acquisition modules to monitor temperatures,
pressures and other environment measurements throughout their facility.
Client: Pepsi-Cola Quality Control Laboratories
Project: Automate Quality Control Tests Performed on Pepsi Products
The Pepsi Quality Control Laboratories required
new, sophisticated instruments to measure
carbonation, air and oxygen, pH and total acidity
in cans and bottles. With its sister companies,
Terriss and LSE, ADS developed the SmartTesterPC
to fulfill this requirement. SmartTesterPC is a
computer-based system that has its own power
supply and multiple sensors for taking measurements.
Also, ADS developed SmartLab, a product that helps laboratory operators
and managers make quick decisions about their production process.
SmartLab simultaneously displays collected data in real-time from
instruments and produces meaningful management reports.
Currently, the SmartTesterPC and SmartLab are installed in bottling plants
across the United States and worldwide. Several bottling plants are using
SmartLab to handle their Laboratory Information Management System
(LIMS) requirements.
Client: Rheem Water Heaters
Project: Water Heater Data Acquisitions
ADS developed and built a water heater data
acquisition system for lifecycle testing, using
LabVIEW. The system measures and controls
both gas and electric water heaters. It tests
and monitors the corrosive effect of hard water
on heaters in remote locations.
Client: Patton Electronics, Co.
Project: Create a Test Suite for Calibration & Performance Testing of
Network Protocol Devices
ADS implemented LabVIEW software in conjunction
with an Aglient Power Supply and BIT error rate test
equipment to calibrate and test the performance of
network protocol devices for Patton Electronics. The original source code for
these was written in C. ADS had to reverse engineer the C code to develop
requirements and a design that was approved by Patton Electronics to
ensure the interoperability and comparability with their current operations.
ADS worked very closely with Patton engineers, technicians and program
managers to capture the correct requirements. In turn, ADS provided the
most efficient architecture that ensures flexibility and usability of the test
suite created for product testing.
Client: DRS - Signal Solutions, Inc. (formerly BAE Systems)
Project: Build a Regression Test Control System for Calibrating and
Testing Military RF Radios
ADS re-engineered a regression test control system
to calibrate and test military RF radios. ADS reverse
engineered C code to write the requirements and
architect the design that provided full regression
testing. Once the requirements and design were agreed upon, ADS
implemented the LabVIEW code to complete the testing and calibration of RF
radios. ADS integrated Aglient, Marcooni and Textronics test equipment, as
well as web page configurations to ensure the interoperability and capability
of their current system.
Client: CIENA Corporation
Project: Develop a LabVIEW-Based System to Automate the Environ-
mental Stress Screen Process for their Manufactured Boards
ADS developed a LabVIEW-based system to automate
Ciena's environmental stress screening process for
their manufacturing boards. Traditional manual testing
was labor intensive and prone to human error. Ciena
uses the ADS system to easily and reliably test product environmental
quality. Using LabVIEW and National Instruments products, the team rapidly
developed a system that is flexible, well-controlled, fail-safe via paging and
allows operators platform-independent, remote access. The system
provides Ciena with important baseline information regarding the quality of
their manufacturing; information that can be used to improve product
quality, increase throughput and enhance future products.
Client: PerkinElmer Fluid Sciences
Project: Develop an Unmanned, Automated Test Rig for Destructive
Testing of Airplane Components
PerkinElmer (formerly EG&G) has looked to ADS since
1997 for our expertise in PLC, SCADA and LabVIEW
programming along with motion and temperature
control engineering. ADS developed an unmanned,
automated test rig for destructive testing of airplane
components. This system was featured in the December 1999 issue of
Control Engineering Magazine. Currently, we maintain a relationship with
PerkinElmer through a support contract.
Client: Stowe Woodward
Project: Upgrade the Stowe Woodward's PressManager application
Stowe Woodward has two major Windows programs for
roll cover performance analyses for industrial roll covers.
PressManager utilizes a computer model of the paper
machine to match the roll covers to the machine clothing
to produce the right conditions for maximum dewatering, bulk, smoothness
and other quality concerns. The Heat Transfer Program (HTR) predicts roll
cover performance. Both programs predict results for maximum pressure,
dwell time, maximum temperature, nip width, pressure impulse and required
coolant. However, each program uses a different algorithm to calculate
these parameters.
ADS upgraded the PM application, written in LabVIEW, by developing new
features. Some of these new features included making changes in the
functionality of the PM and enhancing, creating or modifying certain screens
for the PM application. One of these changes included upgrading the PM
application to use the algorithms from the HTR program.
Client: BAE Systems - Battery Technology Center (BTC)
Project: Develop a new Primary Battery Test System (PBTS)
ADS is developing the new automated Primary
Battery Test System for BAE Systems - BTC.
The new system provides a means to collect, process, monitor and report
data generated during battery and cell discharge tests. The new system will
have considerable impact on the test operation by providing better
communication functions, better test control, more data collection and report
enhancement. The output of the PBTS is made available to a report
generator for standardized reports.
