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FiberQA Blog

3 Ways to Eliminate Supply Chain Friction in the Fiber Optic Industry

Posted by Rachael Cates on Jul 21, 2016 10:38:31 AM

When minute dust particles—not to mention more stubborn oils or permanent pits, chips, cracks, and scratches—can impede the operation of a fiber optic cable, reliable inspection is critical to the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to end users and installers.

According to the Inspection and Cleaning Procedures for Fiber-Optic Connections released by Cisco, Any contamination in the fiber connection can cause failure of the component or failure of the whole system. Even microscopic dust particles can cause a variety of problems for optical connections. This means that quality control and inspection are of the utmost importance during both the manufacturing and installation processes.

Unfortunately, subjective testing procedures, outdated manual scopes, and lack of documented test results have led to a major thorn in our industry’s side: supply chain friction. What passes at the manufacturing facility may not pass during installation because of different testing practices. Did the connector need to be re-polished? Did the connector get contaminated during installation? The blame game ensues, inventory is returned, and everyone loses time, labor, and ultimately…money. 

So how do we move forward and regain control of the situation? Continue reading for 3 ways to eliminate supply chain friction.

1.  Automate

This should be a no-brainer in our tech-savvy industry. Human error is our biggest enemy when trying to accurately measure nanometer-width defects and scratches. Utilizing a manually focused, manually aligned, manually operated fiberscope will produce different results from scope to scope, person to person, and even hour to hour. We should not be estimating whether or not a defect is within allowable parameters. Using an automated fiberscope, such as the FastMT, will eliminate the human error that creates subjective, rather than objective results. Robust software that adheres to specific parameters means that from scope to scope, person to person, manufacturer to installer, the results are repeatable, reproducible, and above all, reliable. It doesn’t hurt that the added bonus to automation is time saved. Without having to manually focus or scroll from fiber to fiber, operators are spending a fraction of the time on each ferrule, which leads to a dramatically increased throughput.

2. Certify

Quality assurance is tantamount to standing by your product as a manufacturer, and trusting the product you use as an installer. However, the devil is, as always, in the details. It is not enough to just say that a connector passed or failed. Supply chain friction begins with conflicting inspection results. The answer is not to simply certify, but certify with proof. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recognized the need to develop a standard for certification (IEC-61300-3-35) which requires the use of an automated system, rather than a manual one. Using a FastMT, a documented report is generated after each test with images showing each defect, its location, and specific data about why it passed. This detailed report provides true certification for every single connector, rather than certification based on simple pass/fail criteria.

3. Standardize

The final step in eliminating supply chain friction is standardization. Certifying a connector with cold, hard data by using a reliable fiberscope cannot soothe the friction all on its own. Even if the same parameters, IEC or otherwise, are being adhered to, conflicting results can occur if different fiberscopes are being used. If one uses an automated scope, while the other uses a manual one, there may be disagreement on the quality of the connector and the defects that are present. The entire supply chain has to work together as a team to develop a consistent inspection process, utilizing the same equipment, same test parameters, etc.

If you follow these 3 steps, you will not only minimize, but eliminate the issues that arise from supply chain friction. Labor will decrease, returned inventory will limited if not eradicated, and throughput will increase, all of which leads to higher revenue and a stable working relationship with your entire supply chain.

If you would like more information about how to Automate, Certify, and Standardize your inspection process with a single ferrule FastMT or multi-ferrule AVIT system, contact us today at Sales@FiberQA.com.

We want to be your resource for better inspection practices. Have a question or a topic you would like us to discuss? Send it over to us so we can include it in our next LIVE webinar!