October 2018
Let’s change just one thing: the substrate. The product line remains the same – same size, same shape, same end-use requirements. Do you have to re-evaluate the cleaning process? Absolutely! To head off production shut downs and to avoid losing business, test the new substrate with the current cleaning process […]
August 2018
You are off to a trade show to find a great critical cleaning process. I’ve run across a few articles about what to do to make the most of a particular show. Planning and conference apps and checklists are a start; but they won’t give you the full benefits. Effective […]
July 2018
It’s a continual source of amazement, or at least amusement. A manufacturer expends considerable time, engineering effort, and expense in designing a product. The marketing folks tout the product’s advanced superiority in trade publications, conferences, and web sites. Then, the assemblers have to actually build the product. Yield problems arise. […]
June 2018
The EPA is further scrutinizing cleaning solvents trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE, tetrachloroethylene), methylene chloride (MC), n-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), and n-propyl bromide (nPB, 1-bromopropane). We discussed EPA actions in the February issue of Clean Source. Now, the EPA has published new documents relating to these solvents and five other chemicals and has […]
May 2018
The first Product Quality Cleaning Workshops (PQCW) was at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas, May 16-17. Participants included manufacturers in the areas of automotive, optics, medical, and metal finishing as well as developers of cleaning chemistries, cleaning equipment, and techniques for surface analysis. The workshop confirmed our expectation […]
April 2018
Specific written instructions about the cleaning process don’t necessarily translate into profitable manufacturing. Consider the wisdom imparted by the classic, mid-century T.V. commercial featuring tuna with good taste (a fish exhibiting faux upper-class behavior) and then touting the superiority of tuna that tastes good. Successful, profitable manufacturing requires both the […]
March 2018
Picture a cleanroom. What comes to mind is perhaps a sanctuary, a safe haven, a place of refuge from the rough and tumble world of manufacturing. The space is carefully designed, certified, and monitored. The furnishings, the consumables are controlled and have specified attributes. The room is inhabited by white-garbed […]
February 2018
Be brave! Read about developments at the EPA. It will be fun – sort of. Welcome to the giant multi-dimensional Sudoku puzzle in the sky. Regulations, both safety and environmental, are so complex and fluid that they result in a monumental headache for manufacturers. Two EPA developments may result in […]
January 2018
Residue is a major concern for manufacturers. Consequences of inadequate residue removal include undesirable appearance (spotting, staining), poor coating adhesion, low yield, and catastrophic product failure. To successfully remove residue it is useful to understand what that residue is and where it came from. Also consider: what is it you […]
October 2017
“Chemical” is the elephant in the room. Sales reps are told to avoid the word or risk losing the sale (1). Let’s get real! Manufacturing cannot happen without chemicals. Manufacturing product involves removing soil, or matter out of place. To do so involves using chemicals. The issue is not whether […]
September 2017
A veteran salesman tells reps to avoid four utterances. The first is “problem;” the second is “contract;” the third is “selling/signing up.” And the forth is (drum roll, please!) … chemical (1). Is a chemical more negative than hurricane, famine, or war? The chemical is the elephant in the room […]
August 2017
[Originally published July, 2005] Identifying the cleaning steps is not necessarily obvious, especially in multi-step processes. In fact, when we consult with our clients, particularly in troubleshooting projects, one of our first bits of detective work involves working our way through the build process and noting the cleaning steps. It […]