How do I measure factory acceptance testing accurately?
Practical guidance for factory acceptance testing: separate true machine speed from waiting, handling, replenishment and short stops.
Direct answer
For factory acceptance testing, measure sustained good output over a representative run rather than relying on the machine’s maximum cycle rate. Improvement starts with a clear definition, measured baseline and an agreed result that can be tested after the change. Start by count good packs over at least one representative production period and record a defined before-and-after metric supported by production records. Make one controlled change at a time so the original cause is not hidden by several new settings.
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What usually causes this?
- operators waiting to load, position or remove packs
- A change in data definition and collection or operator and maintenance method.
- the machine being starved by a small hopper, feeder or upstream process
- The equipment or handling method not being set for pre-delivery testing against agreed functions and performance.
- short stops and resets consuming more time than expected
Checks to make in order
- Count good packs over at least one representative production period
- Record a defined before-and-after metric supported by production records using a representative sample.
- Record running, starved, blocked and fault time separately
- Check product and format variation, machine condition and process capability and acceptance, risk and commercial criteria.
- Measure loading, replenishment and changeover time
- Identify the operation with the longest effective cycle
- Test one improvement and confirm the bottleneck moves
How to decide the next step
Factory acceptance testing involves pre-delivery testing against agreed functions and performance. Increase speed only after the limiting step and the required buffer or operator method are clear.
If adjustment and maintenance cannot hold the required result across the complete product and pack range, compare the machinery route against a written acceptance test. The important comparison is sustained good output—not only maximum cycle speed.
What to include in your production brief
Supplying the information below makes it much easier to distinguish a setup problem from a machinery or packaging limitation:
- Current baseline data
- Affected products and formats
- Cost or risk of the problem
- Required future state
- Site and compliance constraints
- Acceptance test and owner
- Samples that represent factory acceptance testing
- A short video of the current process and fault
Relevant solution websites
These specialist sites match the production process discussed above. Final suitability should be confirmed with samples, output, site and acceptance information.
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