Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance System

To maintain and enhance the quality of products to be delivered to customers, sales personnel hold discussions with customers, carefully confirm the key aspects of quality management, and relay these to suppliers. When we place a new order from a supplier for the manufacture of products, quality assurance managers conduct a quality inspection at the supplier company to determine whether the supplier is qualified to manufacture the products in question. Group companies that manufacture and process components also have a quality assurance system in place for implementing quality control.

Quality Assurance System Framework

Quality Assurance System Framework

Quality Control Guidelines

The philosophy of Techno Associe's quality control is articulated in the Quality Control Guidelines. Intended as a quality improvement manual for the company and its suppliers, this booklet describes concrete mechanisms, implementation methods, and guidelines of quality assurance.

Collaboration with Suppliers, Quality Conference

On November 10, 2022, we held a quality conference with the participation of our suppliers. During the conference that was held online to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we presented awards to outstanding quality posters and slogans submitted.

Testing and Analysis

Our customers address challenges such as the improvement of the functionality of products, the realization of excellent designs and the assurance of product safety including environmental safety every day. To achieve this, the products that we supply to them—which constitute the material of customers' products—must exhibit ever-higher precision. That's why our Quality Control Department conducts tests, measurements, and other assessments of products to ensure that they meet our customers' requirements.

Physical analysis and testing devices

3D coordinate measuring machine
No013D coordinate measuring machine
Having independent scales along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, the machine can obtain X-, Y-, and Z-coordinate values in space. Unlike calipers and micrometers, not only can dimensional measurements be taken but also shapes of things (geometric properties) can be assessed.
Roundness measuring machine
No02Roundness measuring machine
Having a rotating mechanism, the machine measures changes in the circumferential direction or axial direction of a measuring object with the contact-type detector. Geometric properties of a circle or cylinder can be obtained.
Contour shape measuring machine
No03Contour shape measuring machine
By tracing the surface of a measuring object with the probe, the measuring machine records its contour on the PC as it is enlarged. Recording the contour enables dimensional measurements.
Screw tightening measuring machine
No04Screw tightening measuring machine
The machine measures various forces related to screw tightening. (It is mainly used for nuts and bolts compliant with the JIS B 1084 standard. * A torque analyzer is used for tapping screws.) 1) tightening torque 2) axial tightening force 3) thread torque 4) tightening rotation angle 5) bolt elongation
Surface roughness measuring machine
No05Surface roughness measuring machine
By tracing the surface of a measuring object with the probe, the machine measures the degree of projection and depression. According to the degree of projection and depression, parameter values (Ra, Ry, Rz, etc.) can be measured.
Automatic microhardness testing system
No06Automatic microhardness testing system
The system measures material hardness. The inspection surface is given a small indentation to calculate hardness, where the press force to give the indentation is small (microforce, approx. 5gf to 1kgf). What is different from common micro Vickers hardness testers is full automation (automatically taking measurements in preset patterns and making the distribution graphically confirmable).
Image dimension measuring system (image measure)
No07Image dimension measuring system (image measure)
Dimensional measurements of various parts can be taken. Simple placement and push enable collective measurements up to 99 places. No additional positioning jig is needed.
Scanning electron microscope
No08Scanning electron microscope
By using a short electron beam, a nanometer-size structure can be observed, and the structure of the surface of a highly irregular specimen can be observed in three-dimensional image as it is enlarged.
Other testing machines
  • Rockwell hardness tester
  • Micro Vickers hardness tester
  • PC torque analyzer
  • Digital microscope
  • Dynascope
  • Tension/compression testing machine

Chemical analysis and testing devices

Fluorescence X-ray spectrometer (EDX)
No01Fluorescence X-ray spectrometer (EDX)
Types of elements constituting a specimen and their contents can be measured through analysis of the fluorescence X-ray energy (wavelength) and strength generated by irradiating the specimen with X rays. Constituent elements of solids, powders, liquids and other materials can be analyzed in a non-destructive manner (requiring no advance preparations, such as cutting the specimen, etc.).
Fluorescence X-ray film thickness gauge
No02Fluorescence X-ray film thickness gauge
The plating film thickness on a metal surface can be measured.
Salt spray test chamber
No03Salt spray test chamber
Salt-water is sprayed all over a test object to test corrosion resistance (whether it is resistant or sensitive to rusting).
Combined cycle salt spray test chamber
No04Combined cycle salt spray test chamber
Results obtained by this corrosion resistance tester are closer to outdoor corrosion (severer than common salt water spray used to test only whether it is resistant or sensitive to rusting).
Thermal desorption mass spectrometer
No05Thermal desorption mass spectrometer
The equipment screen-tests the “four phthalate esters” that will newly be restricted by the EU RoHS Directive in July 2019.
Other testing machines
  • Portable fluorescence X-ray analyzer
  • Constant temperature and humidity chamber
  • Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer

Stepping Up Education and Boosting Quality Improvement

Techno Associe holds lectures on quality topics and conducts e-learning courses via the company’s intranet. Currently, 15 quality-related e-learning courses are offered. In fiscal 2022, the lecture delivered at the quality conference and an overview of chemSHERPA were made available online.

Main Quality e-learning Starting Fiscal Year Number of Participants
Introduction to FTA/FMEA FY2016 394
Quality Control Guidelines; 5th edition FY2018 395
Introduction to QC process flowcharts FY2017 471
Case studies on complaints FY2016 518
Outline of self-process guarantee (preventive activities) FY2017 279
Overview of 2015 editions of ISO9001 and 14001 FY2017 756
Complaint report - guidebook for preparation/close examination FY2018 354
Overview of 4M change application FY2018 513
Overview of past problems checklist FY2018 492
Quality Control Education A (Quality Control means, QC7Tools) FY2019 357
Quality Control Education B (Process Capabilities and Sampling Inspections) FY2019 293
Understanding of purchasing standards (Part Ⅰ) FY2021 320
Understanding of purchasing standards (Part Ⅱ) FY2021 341
4th Quality Conference part 1 FY2022 19
4th Quality Conference part 2 FY2022 18
chemSHERPA Overview FY2022 39
*
Number of trainees from opening year.
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