Reliability and ease of implementation are critical for manufacturing

A discussion with Kevin Harding of the GE Global Research Center

VSD: What general needs do you see at GE for machine vision in manufacturing?

Harding: There are many opportunities in high-value manufacturing for machine vision, ranging from simple checks of assemblies to micron-level inspection for surface defects. Just as in the automotive industry, any complex assembly has the potential for human error. A wrong bolt, a missing washer, or a missing connector could lead to equipment failure. Machine vision is very good at these types of repetitive checks, where a person might easily miss a simple error. Surface inspection of everything from plastic sheeting to precision rotor assemblies can take a lot of time if done using only visual means. We will sometimes use a triple visual inspection to be certain of an assembly. Machine vision offers the potential for significant labor savings and less likelihood of missing the small defect.

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