All industries need to think ahead and build better products as fast as possible. On the other hand, they have to make sure the components are in conformity with the original design intent of high-quality standards to avoid any safety issues. We could divide the product development of a component in three steps: design, manufacturing, and finally quality control.
For a new product, it all starts with the design. Sketches and mockups are made, then a first CAD model is created to build the first prototype. When the part enters manufacturing, tooling is made and maintained to ensure quality over time. Manufacturing is closely related to quality control. First article inspection lets the manufacturer take multiple measurements of the first part produced to verify it matches the original 3D model. If it doesn’t, it goes back to design or manufacturing, depending on the root cause.
This whole process is as relevant for aftermarket manufacturers in any industry. If you are working in aftermarket industries with existing products that need to replace a component or customize it, you will need to use reverse engineering. It will allow you to get dimensions from the original product to ensure your new product will perfectly fit.
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