Electrical Feedthrough Traceability for Batch Quality Assurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing electrical feedthroughs in ignition units for airbags and seatbelt tensioners face challenges in ensuring quality assurance and traceability, leading to increased inspection effort and difficulty in identifying defective components within large batches, which affects the accuracy and efficiency of the production process.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that integrate an information store, such as a barcode or RFID chip, to track manufacturing parameters and unique identifiers of components, enabling traceability and quality assessment throughout the manufacturing and further processing stages, allowing for real-time monitoring and optimization of the production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If random or 100% quality assurance exit inspection is performed on manufactured feedthroughs, then quality control is improved, but inspection effort and time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing an information store on each component carrier that contains data about the feedthroughs before they are dispatched. This allows the receiving inspection to be based on pre-acquired information rather than performing extensive new inspections, thus reducing inspection effort while maintaining quality control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by acquiring information about manufacturing parameters and quality characteristics during production, storing this information on the component carrier, and using it for subsequent receiving inspection. This closed-loop feedback system enables quality assurance with reduced inspection effort.
2Reliability
If extensive receiving inspection is performed at the ignition unit manufacturer, then quality assurance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an information store as an intermediary that carries quality and manufacturing information from the feedthrough manufacturer to the ignition unit manufacturer. This intermediary provides the necessary quality assurance data without requiring complex inspection equipment or procedures at the receiving end.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by creating a digital copy of manufacturing and quality information in the information store on the component carrier. This copy contains all necessary data for quality assurance, eliminating the need for physical re-inspection and reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If feedthroughs are manufactured in large batches, then productivity is improved, but traceability and defect identification are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by providing a separate information store for each component carrier, which contains specific information about the feedthroughs manufactured in that batch. This segmentation maintains traceability even when manufacturing in large batches by organizing information in discrete, identifiable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by acquiring and storing manufacturing parameter information and quality characteristics during the manufacturing process itself, rather than attempting to trace this information later. This ensures traceability is maintained from the outset when manufacturing in batches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for further processing of components includes: providing the components with an electrical feedthrough, each one of the plurality of components including: a base body including a feedthrough opening; an electrically insulating material; a functional element, the electrical feedthrough being that in which the functional element is fastened in the feedthrough opening by way of the electrically insulating material; and an information store; obtaining an information that is assigned to component, wherein the obtaining of the information that is assigned to the component includes reading an information store of the component or reading an assembly information store of a container that receives a component; and assigning the information to a respective unit, the components being manufactured using a method for manufacturing.