The Systems Business Group manufactures LCD and DLP projectors.
My job involves bringing in electronic measuring equipment that can help us in the manufacturing of those projectors.
In the LCD projector manufacturing process there is a test called flicker adjustment whereby we try to maximize the performance of the LCD panel, and it is very difficult to express the results quantitatively during this procedure. Therefore flicker is adjusted by sight, and even if the personnel performing the adjustment are experienced, their adjustments can differ from projector to projector depending on their own physical condition, or can vary between two different testers. For all these reasons, we decided to purchase the 3298 Multimedia Tester to be able to make adjustments using quantitative measurements.
(A Conversation with Mr. Nakamura from the Production Technology Team)

When I make decisions about buying new equipment, I basically lean towards instruments that don't require complicated setup or operation from the person who will be using it. I chose instruments that can be integrated into a high-speed automatic data acquisition system. Also, one of the most important points is quality. One of the biggest benefits for us with this new 3298 is that we can switch testing personnel and not worry about a lack of reliability in the results.

In the manufacturing process for LCD projectors there are three main steps: preparation, assembly and test, and packaging. I am responsible for the first two of those steps. We are using 5 of the 3298's in the assembly/test process. It's actually a very easy measuring device to use by people doing the flicker test for the first time.

We used to rely on human eyes for the adjustment, but the problem was that the measurements would vary with inexperienced testers. But with the 3298 we get the same adjustment value no matter who performs the measurement, and that ensures a very high reliability in the LCD performance.

Also, on the manufacturing line we sometimes rotate workers which means that a given worker may only be on a particular task for a short time. And there again, the 3298 makes a huge difference in our levels of efficiency because it's easy to use, and easy to teach to a new worker using it for the first time.
(A conversation with Mr. Fujimoto and Mr. Kakutani of the Television System Manufacturing Section)

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