“It is never possible to predict a physical occurrence with unlimited precision.” - Max Planck
Contamination of manufactured products is a broad-ranging subject. Let’s first review the definitions of “contamination” and, since even the definitions are topically wide, we’ve narrowed in to a couple that make sense for the manufacturing industry.
From Wikipedia: “Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that spoils, corrupts, infects, makes unfit, or makes inferior a material, physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc.
In environmental chemistry, the term "contamination" is in some cases virtually equivalent to pollution, where the main interest is the harm done on a large scale to humans, organisms, or environments."
"An environmental contaminant may be chemical in nature, though it may also be a biological (pathogenic bacteria, virus, invasive species) or physical (energy) agent."
That which damages humans will damage materials and products as well.
Astute engineers and businesses will also look at contamination from a legal perspective.
From Law Insider: “Contaminated Product means a product that contains a Prohibited Substance that is not disclosed on the product label or in information available in a reasonable internet search;
Contaminated Product means Product that has one or more of the following characteristics: (a) contains foreign substances not inherent or naturally occurring in Product; and/or (b) fails to meet Operator’s minimum specifications.”
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Liberty Intercept Blog
Statue of Liberty Copper Patina = Corrosion
Posted by Joe Spitz on Feb 6, 2024 3:03:28 PM
“The first step to change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
~Nathaniel Branden
Read MoreTopics: barrier packaging, better packaging, manufacturers, Statue of Liberty, manufacturing, quality, corrosion prevention
Contamination in Manufacturing: Definitions
Posted by Joe Spitz on Jun 14, 2023 12:25:19 PM
“It is never possible to predict a physical occurrence with unlimited precision.” - Max Planck
Contamination of manufactured products is a broad-ranging subject. Let’s first review the definitions of “contamination” and, since even the definitions are topically wide, we’ve narrowed in to a couple that make sense for the manufacturing industry.
From Wikipedia: “Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that spoils, corrupts, infects, makes unfit, or makes inferior a material, physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc.
In environmental chemistry, the term "contamination" is in some cases virtually equivalent to pollution, where the main interest is the harm done on a large scale to humans, organisms, or environments."
"An environmental contaminant may be chemical in nature, though it may also be a biological (pathogenic bacteria, virus, invasive species) or physical (energy) agent."
That which damages humans will damage materials and products as well.
Astute engineers and businesses will also look at contamination from a legal perspective.
From Law Insider: “Contaminated Product means a product that contains a Prohibited Substance that is not disclosed on the product label or in information available in a reasonable internet search;
Contaminated Product means Product that has one or more of the following characteristics: (a) contains foreign substances not inherent or naturally occurring in Product; and/or (b) fails to meet Operator’s minimum specifications.”
Read MoreTopics: American manufacturing, manufacturers, quality
Connections - the Weakest Link
Posted by Joe Spitz on Oct 24, 2022 10:55:26 AM
In conversation with a young union pipe fitter (Local 537) at the local pub, he shared how they prepare metal surfaces for welding, soldering, joining, and where the stress points are. Our man emphasized that with any pipe system, it is the joints or the connections that are the most susceptible to failure. It occurred to me that is the case with most products, simply, the weakest link is where materials meet.
Topics: barrier packaging, ESD, quality, anti-corrosion barrier packaging, electronics packaging, quality assurance, Static Intercept, Corrosion Control, Static
Retail vs Industrial Packaging: Yin and Yang
Posted by Elaine Spitz on Nov 28, 2017 4:18:53 PM
From Wikipedia: “In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (陰陽 yīnyáng, lit. "dark-bright", "negative-positive") describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.” The intent of retail packaging versus that of packaging for industrial use may seem unrelated at first glance, but I maintain they are most certainly connected.
Read MoreTopics: better packaging, reasons for packaging, quality
Packaging the IEEE - an Association for Excellence in Electronics
Posted by Joe Spitz on Jan 29, 2013 10:03:00 AM
“We solve product reliability issues with our Intercept Technology barrier packaging” is one of my elevator speeches. Because of this association with and passion for reliability issues, Liberty Packaging is a member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the Reliability Society, a technical Society within the IEEE, the world’s leading association for the advancement of technology. The New York City headquartered IEEE is dedicated to the advancement of technical innovation and excellence. It boasts over 400,000 members in more than 140 counties. The Reliability Society has 24 chapters and members in 60 countries worldwide. The Boston/New Hampshire/Rhode Island IEEE chapter whose meetings I attend, is recognized as one of the top three most active chapters worldwide every year. That recognition is a credit to its dedicated volunteer officers.
Topics: American manufacturing, corrosion, boston, IEEE, reliability, quality
CSI ESD: Electronics and Static
Posted by Joe Spitz on Jan 15, 2013 8:00:00 PM
Sometimes it just takes a trained eye. Ted Dangelmayer has that in the field of electro-static discharge prevention (ESD or static charges): a trained eye. Ted and his team of scientists hunt factory floors, shipping rooms, or wherever there is potential for ESD strikes that ruin circuits, create defects, and/or endanger workers. Like the CSI TV shows, they follow a formulated procedure, based on their many years of experience, to find the systems’ weaknesses. Ted and his team then recommend corrective action to their clients, typically a small expenditure when compared to the return the company receives in better product quality and reputation. Many times such a change requires retraining personnel, which Ted and his team will expertly do.
Topics: consumer products, IEEE, ESD, quality
Intercept Packaging at MFG4
Posted by Elaine Spitz on Apr 18, 2012 10:54:00 AM
Liberty Packaging Co. will exhibit Intercept Technology Packaging products at the upcoming MFG4 in Hartford, CT - May 8 - 10 at the Connecticut Convention Center. Sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, MFG4 is a conference featuring supply chain solutions across four key industries: aerospace, defense, medical and energy.
Topics: MFG4, innovation, manufacturing, quality, trade show
Quality Manufacturing in America - Industrial Art
Posted by Joe Spitz on Nov 15, 2011 8:15:00 AM
I had the opportunity in the last few weeks to visit some factory floors. It is always thrilling for a curious man to view and hopefully participate in how things are made; the tools and equipment used, the noise of machine activity, laborers exerting, monitoring, being creative, deriving solutions, being productive; good old work fun. Because of the unique heavy duty barrier packaging we represent, Liberty Packaging has the opportunity to work with people at companies pursuing changes that help them become more environmentally safe while gaining cost savings. We help them by reviewing their processes to see if we can help things work better, easier, more efficiently. In my recent visits, these factory floors were busy and vibrant; very satisfying.
Topics: American manufacturing, barrier packaging, quality
How to Improve Quality in Manufacturing - Dr. Deming
Posted by Elaine Spitz on Jul 28, 2011 6:50:00 AM
Over the course of several chats with the head of the Intercept Technology Group, Keith Donaldson (video series to be released soon), we learned about the groundbreaking work of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant. Dr. Deming had many skills, including electrical engineering, playing the drums, singing, and writing sacred music. His legacy is impressive, especially his work developing new quality control protocols for manufacturing.
Topics: manufacturing, quality
Reliability vs. Product Defects
Posted by Joe Spitz on Jun 16, 2011 7:16:00 AM
I had the opportunity to hear the vice president of a major computer company speak about reliability and the tactics they use to achieve increased product reliability. Because human nature strives to keep things the same and views change as uncomfortable, he emphasized that the change process was long and arduous. This VP was brought in like the new sheriff arriving in Dodge City. It was apparent he had complete executive support to change this company’s operation and design systems; in doing so he would enact a change in its culture. It worked famously. Their return has been extraordinary; they achieved tremendous increases in product reliability which led to lowered cost of goods on every level of the corporation and a stronger reputation amongst their customers.
Topics: American manufacturing, reliability, quality, cost of goods reduction