Quality Assurance for the Best Plastic Extrusion Products

Picking the right custom plastic extrusion manufacturer can be difficult. Many manufacturers do not have the plastic manufacturing quality assurance certifications, tools, and staff to meet legal, industry, and customer requirements.

That’s why you should consider Inplex Custom Extruders LLC. With over 50 years of experience in manufacturing extruded custom plastic profiles and tubing, we have the expertise to create any kind of tubing and plastic profile you desire.

We also have top-notch quality assurance certifications, tools, and staff that demonstrate our commitment to high-quality plastics manufacturing. Keep reading to learn more about the steps that Inplex custom plastic extruders take to ensure that all our custom plastic products meet quality standards.

Inplex’s ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Inplex once again received an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 audit of our quality management system.

ISO 9001:2015 is a global standard for quality management that requires complying organizations to:

• Demonstrate their ability to consistently provide services and products that meet customer and relevant regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Aim to boost customer satisfaction through the effective application of the quality management system. This includes creating processes for:
  • Improving the quality management system.
  • Assuring conformity to customer and relevant legal requirements.

This audit included areas such as production, sales and order entry, calibration, purchasing, and production equipment. To ensure neutrality, an independent auditor audited and re-certified each of these areas.

For the ninth consecutive year, Inplex fulfilled the requirements and received re-certification, with zero minor and zero major non-conformances. This audit included areas such as sales and order entry, production, calibration, production equipment, and purchasing. Each area was audited and re-certified by an independent auditor. Being certified for nearly a decade shows that Inplex is a stable manufacturer with reliable and consistent standards in their custom plastic products.

Integrated Management System (IMS) Certification

Inplex also boasts Integrated Management System (IMS) certification.

Our IMS integrates all of our processes and systems into one framework, enabling us to work as a single unit with unified goals. Accordingly, we apply quality management standards during every stage of the manufacturing process. This provides several benefits, including high production quality, minimal downtime, faster time-to-market (TTM), and improved customer experience.

In contrast, non-IMS organizations focus on management systems individually. Quality assurance is typically delegated to a quality team that only implements quality control after specific manufacturing stages. This can result in oversight, miscommunication, and longer downtime.

Tools Used for Quality Assurance

Inplex Custom Plastic Extruders use several tools for ensuring quality assurance. These include the following:

Admet eXpert 7601

Inplex uses a single column Admet eXpert 7601 testing machine with GaugeSafe software and an eP2 digital controller to perform tensile tests.

We typically use this tool to test break and tension capabilities on flexible polymer products. These machines have the industry’s largest vertical test space, making them ideal for testing stretchy materials like flexible polymer. As such, you can rest assured that all of our polymer products are high quality.

Our flexible vinyl products, for instance, offer:

• A smooth surface to prevent sediment buildup.
• Excellent heating resistance.
• Ability to carry a wide range of liquids, chemicals, and gasses.
• Resistance to corrosion and rust.

Non-contact laser micrometers

We also use non-contact in-line laser micrometers to monitor our custom plastic products’ dimensions.

Compared to traditional measuring devices, Inplex laser micrometers provide extraordinarily high acquisition speed and measurement accuracy. Our laser micrometers are particularly useful for measuring small parts and products due to their non-contact technology and high-performance levels.

QDA 9 Datamyte

Inplex uses QDA 9 Datamyte to collect dimensional data on wall, length, and weight. We also use this software to generate SPC reports to:

• Check how production goals are progressing.
• Confirm which processes need to be adjusted to maximize productivity.
• Confirm which parts are within customer, legal, and industry specifications.
• Confirm which parts or products fail to conform with quality standards and specifications. After
• identifying these parts, our Quality Control Team analyzes why they fall short and how they can be
• improved.
• Reduce costs around rework and scrap.
• Maintain and improve product quality.

Highly-Skilled Quality Control Team

Finally, Inplex has a highly-skilled full-time Quality Control Team. Represented on all three shifts, our Quality Control Team is capable of running tubing, profiles, coating, and pipe of conduit and wire. They can also perform tri-extrusion and co-extrusion techniques.

Experience the Inplex Difference

A leading custom plastic extruder, Inpex can design and manufacture products to your exact specifications. Our certifications and dedication to quality assurance ensure that our custom plastic products deliver as expected every time.

Our broad range of plastics materials and robust manufacturing facility can help you with all of the following:

• Design
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Tooling
• Follow-up service

What’s more, we have produced tubing for a broad range of industries and applications, including:

• Consumer housewares
• Oil and gas Injectorplex
• Point of Purchase (POP) displays
• Highway safety
• Lighting
• Electrical and utilities
• Motor vehicles
• General packaging for food and non-food industries

Curious how we can help you? Contact Inplex today to learn more about our products. We pride ourselves on quality assurance and customer satisfaction.