Expanding Role of Tolerance Analysis

The recent business and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns have left many organizations considering how they can manage collaboration (both within and outside the company), be more innovative with their designs, and evaluate their supplier base relationships and ways to improve communication with them. With some avenues of import/export cut off, companies want more flexibility in sourcing parts, components, and manufacturing services. 

Ed Walsh, Sigmetrix. Image courtesy of Sigmetrix.

We recently spoke to Ed Walsh, Vice President of Global Sales at Sigmetrix, based in McKinney, TX, about how current events are affecting the use of mechanical variation and tolerance analysis tools. Sigmetrix is focused on enabling their customers to design better products through mechanical variation management. As a tool to assist in that goal they develop tolerance analysis solutions, including CETOL 6σ, which integrates with major CAD packages, and EZtol, a one-dimensional tolerance stackup analysis program designed to assist in understanding the impact of the accumulation of part-level dimensional variation and part-to-part assembly variation sources on assembly-level requirements.

Walsh discussed the use of tolerance analysis earlier in the design cycle; the importance of taking mechanical variation into account when changing suppliers; and the importance of accessing remote training and education tools during the shutdown to elevate end user skill sets.

You can listen to the most recent DE24/7 Podcast below.

Intro and end music by Bensound.