Choosing the Best Textile Testing Equipment: 5 Crucial Questions to Consider
Quality Control is Paramount in any industry be it Manufacturing, Health Care or any other industry that values providing the right quality to its customers! In the Textile industry to ensure that the fabrics meet the desired specifications, choosing a reliable testing equipment for your textile lab is KEY. Sometimes choosing the testing equipment can get challenging and confusing all at the same time.
So, we have listed below the 5 questions to consider when purchasing your Next Testing Equipment that can help you make an informed decision!
1. How Accurate & Precise is the Result Generation?
Accuracy & Precision are one of the most important parameters that should be considered when purchasing a testing equipment. If a machine fails to deliver accurate results, the main objective of testing is clearly unmet. Accuracy refers to how closely the measurements align with their truest values while Precision reflects on a machine’s consistency in providing identical results during multiple measurements of the same sample. If a machine is accurate and precise in result generation, it can ensure that the assessment of vital properties of the fabrics such as Tensile Strength, Color Fastness, Thickness etc. which directly impact a product’s quality is done appropriately.
Things to keep in Mind when inspecting the Instrument on Accuracy and Precision Grounds
a). Check its Specification and Technical Details
b). See the Calibration Process
c). Confirm if the equipment adheres to the Required International Testing Standards
2. Do the Equipment’s Testing Capabilities Align with your Lab/Buyer’s Specific Testing Needs?
The testing requirements of different textile labs may vary depending on the type of fabrics they work with and the industry standards they are required to meet. Therefore, it is important to choose the testing equipment that fully aligns with the lab’s specific needs. Similarly, the buyer might also have a certain set of requisites that have to be fulfilled which the testing equipment should be able to assess.
Factors to consider when evaluating the testing capabilities of an equipment -
A). Test Type — Determine and evaluate the tests that you are required to conduct. For example, if you deal with apparel fabrics, the equipment that will be needed for tests should be able to test properties like color fastness, tear strength, pilling resistance etc.
B). Sample Size — The equipment must be able to accommodate the sample size that you typically work with. This is because some instruments are designed for small swatches.
C). Test Speed — Depending on the overall efficiency and workload requirements, the testing speed of the equipment needs to be kept in mind too. If your workload is more, you would need faster machines that generate more productivity, however they come at a higher cost.
D). Automation — Automation is one feature that can substantially improve the reliability and consistency of the test results. So, make sure to look for an equipment that comes with automation features such as automatic data recording or sample feeding to eliminate any manual and redundant tasks.
3. Are Calibration & Maintenance Services readily available ?
To make sure that the test results are dependable and reliable every time, it is crucial to consistently calibrate and maintain any testing equipment. So, when choosing the equipment for your textile lab, assessing the ease of calibration and the smooth accessibility to maintenance services is important. Some equipments require built in calibration routines so that needs to be considered too. Having swift technical assistance and maintenance can reduce the overall downtime and work towards extending the lifespan of the equipment. Therefore, keeping the two in consideration when on the lookout for purchasing a testing machine is essential.
4. Is it Easy to Operate or Is Extensive Training needed?
Ease of use is another important factor when choosing a testing equipment, majorly for labs that have operators with different levels of expertise. The equipment is considered user-friendly if it features an intuitive interface and provides clear operation, setup and troubleshooting instructions.
Criteria to consider when assessing the usability aspects of an equipment -
A). Software Interface — How is the software interface like? How does it impact the overall testing efficiency? Is it smooth in navigation, and does it offer any reporting capabilities and data analysis?
B). Training and Support Provision — Are any support options and trainings provided by the manufacturer to minimize user errors and ensure accurate equipment operation.
C). Documentation — Are User Manual Guides and Technical Details provided in an easy-to-understand format to support the operators?
5. Does the Cost align well with your Company’s Budget?
Finally coming to the most pivotal decision-making factor, the Cost with the Budget Alignment. To strike a balance between Quality and Budget is very challenging and so when weighing the cost considering the following factors will make decision making easier.
A). Initial Capital — Make sure to include the upfront machine cost and any necessary add-ons in the total budget.
B). Running Costs — Assess and Evaluate any ongoing costs like maintenance, calibration, and consumables to calculate the overall total ownership expense.
C). Return on Investment (ROI) — Examine how the equipment enhances the product quality, productivity and the lab’s efficiency in terms of Output, Cost, Rejection Rate, Production.
D). Warranty & Service Support Agreements — Understand and Review the manufacturer’s service and warranty terms. Affordable service agreements and Extended warranties can help in reducing unexpected expenses.
To conclude, when buying lab testing equipment, it is important to make informed decisions based on a thorough assessment of accuracy, precision, testing capabilities, maintenance, calibration, user-friendliness, and cost.
Choosing your next equipment keeping these vital parameters in mind will help in selecting an equipment that specifically caters to your needs and ensure the high-quality of your textile products, in turn leading to Happy Buyers!
Originally Published on www.paramountinstruments.com