John Sprovieri

Few test flights have been more eagerly anticipated since Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in “Glamorous Glennis” in 1947

A strand of ribbon isn’t much, but for one Michigan assembler, it may just have led to a 2008 Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence.

Five inches long and 0.5 inch in diameter, the mirror handle was shaped for ergonomics and utility-not for automated assembly.

T.A. Systems worked closely with the customer to optimize the product for assembly.

The quality checks start before a single fastener is even produced.

Various sensors ensure that parts are present and correctly oriented. A leak tester checks the final assembly.

Quality and sales soar when aerospace assemblers adopt AS9100 standards.

There’s no one-size-fits-all technology for leak-testing automotive assemblies.