QUALITY ASSURANCE IN ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGY

Every adhesive bonding situation is unique but all have a number of common features. Consequently, a generic quality assurance model has been designed to cover all situations. All the major stages from design through to final assembly and inspection are considered. The requirements, the methods of quality verification and the remedial action are defined at each stage, leading ultimately to the identification of specific measures needed for an individual application. The model therefore acts as guidance to the user in defining the specific quality requirements for a bonded assembly and the specific quality management actions needed to ensure quality requirements are met. Using the model and information from the earlier process questionnaires, it has been possible to generate a specific quality plan for several industrial manufacturing processes. This has then been compared with the control plans existing in those companies, with beneficial consequences both for the company and for refinement of the model to enhance its generic viability.