Product Performance Verification

Ensuring that products comply with performance requirements and/or contractual obligations requires some form of verification. In most instances, whether produced in-house or by a contractor, there’s a single big day when verification testing takes place. A lot rides on those pressure-packed events and little can be left to chance. Careful planning requires the selection of a proper and accurate system for the testing. In many cases the results of testing must be indisputable so that all parties are seen to comply with contractual obligations.

Performance testing can take on various forms from random human inspection to conducting complex field tests. However in most situations, technology can be implemented to assist in making certain that project deliverables are on track and stay on track through production and delivery.

In most situations the cost involved in product performance verification can be significant. This is especially true when the tests are destructive in nature. Examples of this pertain mostly to military applications but can include scientific testing and tests to determine maximum product tolerances, which result in product damage. In cases where destructive testing is required, visually capturing events and synchronizing the recording with other data, such as telemetry, can be vital and in some cases even contractually mandated.

Interestingly, even items that seem beyond dispute can be contested. However, one piece of information that goes a long way toward multi-party acceptance of results is extremely high quality visual recorded data. When implemented correctly, recorded information can provide nearly irrefutable detailed verification of product performance.

Sample applications include, but are not limited to:

• Defense systems performance
• Automotive paint application quality
• Vibration, environment exposure, wear and tear, tolerance and other tests to ensure product compliance to agreed upon specifications
• Materials and/or chemical interaction and effects

One recent application that Boulder Imaging implemented for a Fortune 10 company was the analysis of massive wind turbine blades.   Specifically, the company wanted precise data on the movement of a 55 meter blade in terms of flex (down to less than a millimeter) and twist (down to less than a tenth of a degree) in real world conditions using high resolution video.  The challenge was formidable.  There were a number of key elements to the project including:

1. Determining the appropriate high resolution camera and optics
2. Developing a camera housing that can protect the camera under various weather conditions without interfering with data capture
3. Controlling camera aperture in real time to compensate for extreme lighting conditions (for example, a bright sky when the blade was pointed upward towards the sky)
4. Developing a measurement system of markers on the blade and calibrating their coordinates in 3D space.
5. Developing the analysis software to make measurements from the video data in real time based on the location of the blade at any given time in the rotation cycle.
6. Analyzing the data sets from a number of tests under various wind speed conditions.

The result of our work was that the company completely redesigned the blades based on the accurate measurements and analysis from our system.

High quality, high performance digital video recording (HPDVR) systems provide not only verification but also vital forensic information to locate and isolate product lapses and to more rapidly resolve quality issues. This root cause analysis capability is tremendously valuable in high pressure situations where contractual thresholds must be met with very tight time frames. Standard recording systems should provide base features such as synchronized time stamping, image enhancement, adjustable frame rate display, and multi camera support for starters.

In addition to using such systems during the testing phase, they are valuable prior to final performance verification as analysis tools during throughout the development phase of a project.

After acceptance, or during production, there's often a need for ongoing product performance verification. Some regulated industries even require this as standard practice while others require it as part of contractual agreement (such as components subcontractors). Taking all the above factors into account it should be clear that there are accumulated benefits that can be gained from applying high performance digital video recording technologies to ensure product performance verification.

Boulder Imaging Exceeds Your Product Performance Verification Needs

The appropriate solution for product performance verification can vary greatly depending upon the application. In some instances, tremendous planning regarding event triggering needs to be considered to insure incident capture. Other situations may require thoughtful consideration on the number of cameras as well as their placement. Fortunately, no matter the requirements, Boulder Imaging has an unsurpassed depth of knowledge when it comes to high speed digital recording of product performance verification.

Boulder Imaging has worked on many projects involving high cost/value performance verification tests for a wide variety of industries and government and research organizations. Let us show you how we can help you with your Product Performance Verification needs. Please contact us by clicking here.