#variable msa

[vaishnavireportprime]

Personal Protective Equipment Market Forecast: Key Players, Trends, and Future Growth

The global Personal Protective Equipment Market (PPE) market has grown significantly as industries, healthcare facilities, and individual consumers prioritize safety. PPE plays a critical role in protecting individuals from various hazards, ensuring safety in workplaces ranging from construction sites to hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated demand for PPE, with governments, businesses, and consumers understanding the critical role of safety equipment.

This blog explores the PPE market, covering its size, growth, key players, product segmentation, application areas, and future forecast, with insights into market challenges and regulatory constraints.

Market Growth & Size

The global PPE market continues to expand, with growth driven by rising awareness about workplace safety, government regulations, and the ongoing need for health and safety compliance across industries. In 2024, the global PPE market is estimated at approximately USD 87.69 billion, projected to reach around USD 128.57 billion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%.

Key factors driving market growth include:

Increased Health and Safety Awareness: Employers are more focused on safety measures to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Government Regulations: Regulatory bodies enforce strict safety standards and PPE compliance, particularly in sectors with high-risk environments like construction and manufacturing.

Pandemic Preparedness: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of PPE, particularly in healthcare, which continues to drive demand for items like masks, gloves, and gowns.

Key Companies in the PPE Market

The PPE market is led by prominent companies that offer diverse protective equipment catering to different industries. Major players include:

3M Company – Known for its innovation in respiratory protection and healthcare PPE.

Honeywell International Inc. – A leader in safety solutions across industries, including industrial safety and respiratory protection.

Ansell Limited – Specializes in gloves and body protection, widely used in healthcare and manufacturing.

DuPont – Known for high-quality protective clothing, particularly in chemical and medical environments.

MSA Safety Inc. – Focuses on helmets, fall protection, and respiratory devices for construction and mining industries.

These companies emphasize innovation, quality, and compliance, developing products that meet safety standards while improving user comfort.

Legal Constraints & Limitations

Regulatory Standards

PPE products must adhere to strict regulatory standards to ensure user safety. These regulations vary by region but generally require manufacturers to meet minimum safety, health, and environmental criteria.

Occupational Safety Standards: In the U.S., OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) outlines specific requirements for PPE across industries, including construction, healthcare, and mining.

Environmental Impact Standards: As sustainability becomes a priority, companies must comply with environmental standards, focusing on eco-friendly materials and manufacturing practices.

International Certifications: CE marking in the EU, NIOSH certification in the U.S., and other regional certifications ensure product reliability and safety.

Market Limitations

Despite the growth potential, the PPE market faces certain limitations:

High Costs: Quality PPE can be expensive, impacting smaller companies’ ability to invest in protective equipment for their employees.

Supply Chain Challenges: PPE production relies on specific raw materials, which may face supply chain disruptions, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality Variability: With demand surging, counterfeit and low-quality products have entered the market, posing risks to user safety.

Market Segmentation by Product and Application

By Product Type

The PPE market includes a wide variety of products, each serving unique protective needs:

Head Protection: Helmets and hard hats are critical in construction, mining, and industrial settings to protect against head injuries.

Eye and Face Protection: Safety glasses, face shields, and goggles are essential in sectors exposed to chemical, radiation, and mechanical hazards.

Hearing Protection: Earplugs and earmuffs prevent hearing damage in noisy environments like manufacturing plants and airports.

Respiratory Protection: Masks and respirators protect against airborne contaminants, particularly in healthcare, construction, and chemical industries.

Hand and Arm Protection: Gloves made from various materials provide protection against chemicals, cuts, and heat in manufacturing and healthcare.

Foot and Leg Protection: Steel-toe boots and shoe covers prevent injuries in industrial settings.

Body Protection: Coveralls, vests, and aprons shield workers from chemicals, heat, and infectious agents, especially in healthcare and chemical industries.

By Application

PPE applications vary widely across industries, with key sectors including:

Healthcare: PPE like gloves, masks, gowns, and face shields are essential for infection control in hospitals and clinics.

Manufacturing and Construction: Workers rely on PPE, including helmets, gloves, and respiratory equipment, to minimize injury risks.

Oil and Gas: The high-risk nature of oil extraction requires robust PPE, including fire-resistant clothing and respiratory protection.

Mining: Mining operations use helmets, ear protection, and fall arrest systems to protect workers in hazardous environments.

Food Processing: In food production, PPE ensures hygiene and protection against chemical exposure.

Future Forecast: Trends and Opportunities

The PPE market is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with several trends shaping its future:

Focus on Sustainable PPE: With environmental awareness on the rise, manufacturers are exploring biodegradable and recyclable materials to produce eco-friendly PPE.

Technological Advancements: PPE is evolving to integrate smart technology, such as sensors that monitor environmental hazards and provide real-time data on worker safety.

Enhanced Comfort and Fit: Manufacturers are designing ergonomically optimized PPE to improve wearability, encouraging compliance.

Increasing Demand in Emerging Markets: As industrialization grows in developing countries, demand for PPE is rising, offering lucrative market expansion opportunities.

Stricter Safety Regulations: Governments worldwide are tightening safety regulations, driving continuous improvements in PPE design and quality.

Conclusion

The PPE market plays a vital role in protecting workers and ensuring operational safety across various industries. With a positive growth forecast, driven by factors like increased safety awareness, stringent regulations, and technological advancements, the PPE market is poised to see robust demand in the coming years. Leading companies are committed to innovating, offering high-quality, comfortable, and eco-friendly products that meet regulatory standards and cater to diverse industry needs.

As industries prioritize safety and compliance, the future of the PPE market looks promising, with exciting opportunities for growth, product diversification, and global market expansion.

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[foggynightdonut]

Heated blade cores dated to 65,000 years ago discovered at Klipdrift Shelter, South Africa, showing how pieces were flaked off to form a single blade (left), variety of flaked blades (right) Image credit https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0163874

The Evolution of a toolkit

There is a consensus that by about 300,000 years ago, there is a distinct shift in stone tool technology that is recognized by scientists as a shift from the late Acheulean to the Middle Stone Age (MSA). The MSA has flakes that are made on prepared cores and shows a shift away from hand axes as the primary tool type. A prepared core is a core where the core is carefully shaped so that it is ready, or prepared, to strike off a flake of a particular shape. One of the classic shapes was a point, and points can be used as projectile tips, knives, scraping tools, etc.

The types of points proliferate and begin to show regional and temporal patterns. Some points are unmodified flakes that have been knocked off, with great skill, from the prepared cores. These become a common flake form around 300,000 years ago. Others are carefully shaped with repeated flaking into a biface, and some appear to have received their final shaping with a technique called pressure flaking where the flakes are pushed off in a highly controlled manner. These bifacial points become common between 110,000 to 70,000 years ago. Some are long and thin and others short and squat. Some have bases that have been modified in ways consistent with hafting. All of this suggests an intense concern with the production of projectile points and knife blades.

A second stone tool form that begins to proliferate is called blades. Blades are very common after about 110,000 years ago. Blades are flakes that are twice as long as they are wide. Many blades are also made on prepared cores, and some of these cores take on regular forms so that they can produce many blades all rather similar in shape and size. Blades are also highly variable, some being long and others short. Evolving out of blade technology is microlithic technology, and in most cases microlithic technology involves the snapping of blades into smaller pieces, and then the blunting of one edge. Ethnographic and archaeological examples show us that the blunted edge was inserted into a groove in wood or bone, glued in along with other microliths, to create projectile point or cutting edges. Overall, there is a pattern of miniaturization over time, and this has been interpreted to be directed at lightening the weight of the projectile. The earliest evidence for microliths comes from a field site at Pinnacle Point, South Africa, dated to about 72,000 years ago.

Points take a dramatic turn around 70,000 years ago when in South Africa hominins begin to make them on bone. Bone points require careful grinding and polishing, and based on ethnographic evidence, they are commonly combined with blades into very effective projectiles. Bone tools appear in other classes, and the earliest now known come from North Africa. This expansion of raw material to bone is paralleled by an expansion of new stone raw materials and an increasing concern with raw material quality. Raw materials are extracted from longer distances, often 50 kilometers, or even up to 200 kilometers away. Raw materials are subjected to a new form of modification called heat treatment. In fact, the oldest evidence in the world for heat treatment, what we can think of as the first raw material pyrotechnology, comes from the field site of Pinnacle Point dated to around 162,000 years ago.

A general pattern is that over time these stone tool forms get smaller and smaller, and this is thought to represent a concern with lightening the weight to increase the distance of a cast projectile. Some scientists think that when these points, once they reach the small size of ethnographically documented atlatl and bow and arrow points, signal that this technology had appeared. This is around 70,000 years ago.

What was an MSA hominin society like?

There is consensus that by 70,000 years ago, just around the time modern human left Africa, all the characteristics typical of modern hunter-gatherers were present. They were cognitively modern. They had that special form of social learning unique to modern humans. And they had an evolved proclivity to cooperate at large scales. They had multiscale society and were organized into tribes. They had the ability to make the entire modern human hunter-gatherer toolkit and rapidly adapted it to local conditions. They had complex symbolic systems and language and institutions to organize society. In other words, they were fully modern humans. But when did this first evolve? Were hominins dating to 200,000 years ago or 100,000 years ago fully modern in the way we have defined them above? Researchers don’t have an answer for this yet, but progress for these questions is rapid, and scientists are close in on the answers.

[smqazi]

SAHIH AL-BUKHARI, Book 9, Hadith 37

Chapter (18): The time of the Maghrib prayer (evening prayer)

باب وَقْتِ الْمَغْرِبِ

وَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ يَجْمَعُ الْمَرِيضُ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ.

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah (RadiyAllahu ‘anhu):

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray the Zuhr at midday, and the `Asr at a time when the sun was still bright, the Maghrib after sunset (at its stated time) and the `Isha at a variable time. 

Whenever he saw the people assembled (for `Isha' prayer) he would pray earlier and if the people delayed, he would delay the prayer. And they or the Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer the Fajr prayers when it still dark.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَدِمَ الْحَجَّاجُ فَسَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ، وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ نَقِيَّةٌ، وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ، وَالْعِشَاءَ أَحْيَانًا وَأَحْيَانًا، إِذَا رَآهُمُ اجْتَمَعُوا عَجَّلَ، وَإِذَا رَآهُمْ أَبْطَوْا أَخَّرَ، وَالصُّبْحَ كَانُوا ـ أَوْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّيهَا بِغَلَسٍ.

Reference

: Sahih al-Bukhari 560

In-book reference

: Book 9, Hadith 37

USC-MSA web (English) reference

: Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 535

Heading

[programweek2]

Week 2 assignment

This assignment involved looking at the use and dependency of opioids. I selected the NESARC dataset.  

Let me Describe: 

I began by importing the Libraries pandas and numpy.  Then the NESARC dataset.  I printed the rows and columns in the data, and summarized the age of the individuals in the data. I created a smaller dataset of just those that had taken opioids. Since I initially assumed that these were people prescribed opioids (the field is listed under Medicine Use). The fields described in NESARC-III (NIAAA) suggest that the field may pertain to opioids taken without a prescription.  

 The Results

The NESARC dataset includes interviews from 43,093 participants and 3,010 variables of data.  Sample participants had a mean age of 46.4 ± 18.2 (mean ± sd, median 44).  1,301 (roughly 3%) of the sample participants had taken opioids at some point, though 320 individuals were non-respondents.  The mean age and standard deviation of individuals that had taken opioids was 39.4 ± 13.3.  The West and Pacific Census regions and divisions appear to have greater proportions of individuals who had taken opioids than censused.  While only about 1.8% (n=24) of the individuals who said they tried opioids said they had an opioid dependency issue in the last 12 months, about 5.7% (n = 75) of the individuals that had tried opioids responded that they experienced an opioid dependency prior to the last 12 months.  

 Written code

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

Spyder Editor

 #Import Libraries

import pandas

import numpy 

#Read In Data

data = pandas.read_csv('_c10361280c0613304594ab464c014f47_nesarc_pds.csv',low_memory=False)

 #Print the Number of Rows in the Dataset

print(len(data))

 #Print the Number of Columns in the Dataset

print(len(data.columns))

 #Print the Three Number Summary and 2 Moments That Pertain to Age of Interviewees

print(numpy.min(data["AGE"]))

print(numpy.median(data["AGE"]))

print(numpy.max(data["AGE"]))

print(numpy.mean(data["AGE"]))

print(numpy.std(data["AGE"]))

print('Count and Percent of Surveyed Individuals that Used Opioids')

print('(1=Yes 2=No 3=Unknown)')

data["S3BQ1A2"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True)

print(data["S3BQ1A2"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(data["S3BQ1A2"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

 #Subset the Data for Individuals Who have Used Opioids

sub1=data[data['S3BQ1A2']==1]

print('Number of Individuals That Used Opioids')

print(len(sub1))

print(numpy.min(sub1["AGE"]))

print(numpy.median(sub1["AGE"]))

print(numpy.max(sub1["AGE"]))

print(numpy.mean(sub1["AGE"]))

print(numpy.std(sub1["AGE"]))

#Calculate and Print Counts from the Variables in the Dataset

print('Count and Percent of Individuals in US Regions')

print('(1=Northeast 2=Midwest 3=South 4=West)')

print(data["REGION"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(data["REGION"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

print('Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioids by Region')

print(sub1["REGION"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(sub1["REGION"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

 print('Count and Percent of Individuals in Census Divisions')

print('(1=New England 2=Mid Atlantic 3=E. N. Central 4=W. N. Central 5=S. Atlantic 6=E. S. Central 7 = W. S. Central 8=Mountain 9=Pacific)')

print(data["CENDIV"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(data["CENDIV"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

 print('Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioids by Divisions')

print(sub1["CENDIV"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(sub1["CENDIV"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

 print('Count and Percent of Individuals in City (1) or Rural(2) MSA')

print(data["CCS"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(data["CCS"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

 print('Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Individuals by Environs')

print(sub1["CCS"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(sub1["CCS"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

  ###### Opioid Users Only

print('Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioid with History of Abuse/Dependency in the Last 12 Mos')

print('(0 = None 1=Abuse 2=Dependence 3=Abuse and Dependence)')

print(sub1["PAN12ABDEP"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(sub1["PAN12ABDEP"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

print('Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioid with History of Abuse/Dependency Prior to Last 12 Mos')

print('(0 = None 1=Abuse 2=Dependence 3=Abuse and Dependence)')

print(sub1["PANP12ABDEP"].value_counts(sort=False))

print(sub1["PANP12ABDEP"].value_counts(sort=False, normalize=True))

The Output

Python 3.7.3 (default, Mar 27 2019, 17:13:21) [MSC v.1915 64 bit (AMD64)]

Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

 IPython 7.4.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.

In [1]: runfile('C:/Users/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/Documents/Coursera/Wes1 Data Mgmt and Visualization/Week 2/Week2.py', wdir='C:/Users/The Eurypterid/Documents/Coursera/Wes1 Data Mgmt and Visualization/Week 2')

43093

3010

18

44.0

98

46.40080755575151

18.17840080853223

Count and Percent of Surveyed Individuals that Used Opioids

(1=Yes 2=No 3=Unknown)

1     1301

2    41472

9      320

Name: S3BQ1A2, dtype: int64

1    0.030191

2    0.962384

9    0.007426

Name: S3BQ1A2, dtype: float64

Number of Individuals That Used Opioids

1301

18

40.0

93

39.36664104534973

13.310635978310472

Count and Percent of Individuals in US Regions

(1=Northeast 2=Midwest 3=South 4=West)

1     8209

2     8991

3    16156

4     9737

Name: REGION, dtype: int64

1    0.190495

2    0.208642

3    0.374910

4    0.225953

Name: REGION, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioids by Region

1    201

2    269

3    461

4    370

Name: REGION, dtype: int64

1    0.154497

2    0.206764

3    0.354343

4    0.284397

Name: REGION, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals in Census Divisions

(1=New England 2=Mid Atlantic 3=E. N. Central 4=W. N. Central 5=S. Atlantic 6=E. S. Central 7 = W. S. Central 8=Mountain 9=Pacific)

1    2018

2    6191

3    6430

4    2561

5    8665

6    2658

7    4832

8    3046

9    6692

Name: CENDIV, dtype: int64

1    0.046829

2    0.143666

3    0.149212

4    0.059430

5    0.201077

6    0.061681

7    0.112130

8    0.070684

9    0.155292

Name: CENDIV, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioids by Divisions

1     48

2    153

3    180

4     89

5    248

6     81

7    132

8    117

9    253

Name: CENDIV, dtype: int64

1    0.036895

2    0.117602

3    0.138355

4    0.068409

5    0.190623

6    0.062260

7    0.101460

8    0.089931

9    0.194466

Name: CENDIV, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals in City (1) or Rural(2) MSA

1    15002

2    20295

3     7796

Name: CCS, dtype: int64

1    0.348131

2    0.470958

3    0.180911

Name: CCS, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Individuals by Environs

1    505

2    588

3    208

Name: CCS, dtype: int64

1    0.388163

2    0.451960

3    0.159877

Name: CCS, dtype: float64

Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioid with History of Abuse/Dependency in the Last 12 Mos

(0 = None 1=Abuse 2=Dependence 3=Abuse and Dependence)

0    1239

1      38

2       8

3      16

Name: PAN12ABDEP, dtype: int64

0    0.952344

1    0.029208

2    0.006149

3    0.012298

Name: PAN12ABDEP, dtype: float64

The Count and Percent of Individuals That Used Opioid with History of Abuse/Dependency Prior to Last 12 Mos

(0 = None 1=Abuse 2=Dependence 3=Abuse and Dependence)

0    1013

1     213

2       9

3      66

Name: PANP12ABDEP, dtype: int64

0    0.778632

1    0.163720

2    0.006918

3    0.050730

Name: PANP12ABDEP, dtype: float64

 References used

National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.)  National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.  https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/research/nesarc-iii

[nikunjbhoraniya]

GRR Study in easy 6 steps with excel template explained with example have a look

[4cconsulting]

What Are Automotive Core Tools - Importance Of Automotive Core Tools

Automotive Core Tools Overview

Today, Automobile Manufacturing organizations are working in a cut-throat market scenario where simultaneous improvement and an effective Quality Management System ensure success. Keeping this in mind, Automotive Core Tools were created.

These quality methods and tools were developed more than 30 years ago by the AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) and ASQ (American Society of Quality), in association with the automakers Ford, GM, and Chrysler (now FCA), to improve the efficiency of the IATF 16949-based QMS and deliver high-quality products on schedule.

According to the current standards of the automotive sector, these quality methods, which are based on IATF 16949, aid employees in optimizing processes and are essential for an efficient quality management system.

What are the Automotive Core Tools?

The five primary approaches manufacturers and supply chains use to manage quality control are called automotive core tools. They help suppliers and manufacturers adhere to IATF 16949 Automotive Quality Management System. Despite the IATF 16949 compliance obligations, organizations can still benefit from automotive quality tools. Manufacturers’ use of quality tools facilitates the detection of flaws, efficient product planning, monitoring of the development processes, and application of product quality planning. Following are the five core tools.

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Product Part Approval Process (PPAP)

Let’s understand each tool in detail and understand how to use them.

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP): Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Control Plan aims to reduce the complexity of product quality plans. It is a structured method of signifying and establishing the process and steps required to ensure product quality standards and customer satisfaction. APQP allows customers to easily communicate their product quality planning requirements to their suppliers, thus reducing the complexity of product quality planning for both. With this, suppliers get a clear picture of the basic industry requirements for achieving part approval from their customers. Control Plans summarize the identified process and product parameters required to maintain product conformity. These tools are applicable throughout the supply base in all customer/supplier relationships. APQP defines the required inputs and outputs of each stage of the product development process.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) identifies and addresses failure modes in products and processes. It is an analytical methodology to ensure that issues are identified and addressed throughout the product and process development process. It is an essential part of automotive core tools that encompasses risk assessment as a part of its evaluation. The analysis is conducted regarding the designs (of either the product or process), and the functions are reviewed thoroughly. Eventually, it aims at reducing the risk of potential failure. It is used before developing a control plan for a new or modified process while improving goals planned over the existing process, product or service and when the failures are analyzed about the existing process.

Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA): MSA stands for Measurement System Analysis. It is the measurement data that monitors nearly every process. It is a collection of many statistical analysis methods for evaluating variability in the measurement process. This is a significant part of automotive core tools as it helps improve data quality and decision-making. It is a guide that helps organizations assess the quality of their measurement systems by identifying improvement areas. It eventually provides knowledge based on data that can be used to improve the measurement process, improving repeatable product quality.

Statistical Process Control (SPC): Statistical Process Control (SPC) describes several basic and advanced statistical methods to ensure your process improvements are more effective. Statistical techniques such as controlling charts are utilized to analyze a process or its output. It helps take appropriate actions to achieve and maintain a state of statistical control and improve the process capability. It helps in controlling quality by closely monitoring the manufacturing process. Further, it provides solid ground for organizations to move from detection based to prevention-based quality controls.

Product Part Approval Process (PPAP): The production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is the only industry standard that ensures engineering design and product specification requirements are met without hindrance. It provides a guideline through which suppliers and customers understand the requirements to obtain part approval for supplier-manufactured parts. It applies to all parts and commodities. Further, it reduces delays and non-conformances during part approval. It addresses details pertinent to design records to ensure traceability of part design status at origin, and controls the predict a process change process, thus providing an approval outlet for all changes to ensure conformance for the next level assembly.

What data can be deduced from Automotive Core Tools?

The New Product Introduction (NPI) phases of product and process development, as well as specific situations such as experienced failures or technical changes, involve the usage of the Quality Core Tools. An analyst can deduce the following after reviewing the Quality Core Tools:

APQP provides time and advice for all actions and tools involved in product and process prevention and control, including the remaining Quality Core Tools. It includes requirements, specifications, reliability/design goals, preliminary special features, and scheduling.

The design FMEA risk assessment provides fine-tuned specific characteristics, testing inputs, and design enhancements. Process FMEA Risk Assessment considers potential process flaws, enhanced process performance, and management techniques for unique characteristics.

MSA certifies the gauge systems used for unique characteristic measurements, which is essential for correctly identifying product quality defects.

SPC illustrates process capability and stability for unique characteristics derived by DFMEA and PFMEA in the first place.

The PPAP shows that all special features have developed unique controls or reached a degree of stability and capability (Cpk) that is acceptable.

Why Automotive Core Tools are important?

The cost of poor quality (COPQ), measured in the manufacturing sector, is the expense related to processing and product failures. Compared to the industry leaders, subpar manufacturers are 5X more likely to incur expenditures related to scrap, rework, defects, retesting, and recalls.

The best manufacturers have COPQ scores of under 1%, while subpar manufacturers have scores of 5% or more. Therefore, by addressing issues, particularly fatal errors, before they become significant problems after a product has been published, the 5 Core Quality tools preventively minimize COPQ. Improved consumer and supplier communication and comprehension help achieve this.

[phantoms-lair]

Ask meme!

tagged by @plush_anon

Name: Phantom

Pronouns: Any, I truly don't care

Zodiac: Libra/ Wood Rat

Height: 5'4

Nationality: Unfortunately American

Favourite band: Been listening to a lot of American Murder Song lately

Favourite artist:

When you created your blog: Technically June 2011, but I didn't start really using it till January 2015

Last thing you Googled: Level 40 Grand Company Leves

Lucky number: 8

Other blogs: a defunct Scooby Doo rp blog, a multimuse RP blog I might use once in a while, and a recently relaunched trio of MSA Blogs ( Pactbound Arthur, BeBlueVi, and OrangeCrush Lewis)

Why you chose your URL:  The idea at the time (I misunderstood that this was a blogging platform and not a website generator which is why I abandoned it for three years) What that I was Phantom and this was where my home(page) was, so it was my lair.

How many blogs are you following?: 237, some of which are defunct

How many followers do you have?: 2,892, though I haven't bot-purged in a while

How many average hours of sleep?: Variable. Six hours while work is in session, otherwise 9

Instruments you can play: I used to play the violin, but it's been two decades

Currently wearing: Grey Scooby Doo T-shirt and black sweatpants stained with purple and blue pain.

Dream trip: Japan.

Favourite food: Either Ramen or Peter's hamburgers

Favourite song: Changes often.

Tagging: @everystarstorm @eagefree

[ihaveatheoryonthat]

For obvious reasons, I’ve been poking around my MSA folder again. This is an old piece (circa 2016/pre-Hellbent) that I think is interesting, but that I know I’m never going to finish. It’s piecemeal, but hopefully there’s enough to enjoy!

The problem with being a supernatural entity on a team of paranormal investigators was that, inevitably, someone would figure something out.

That was hardly an issue for Mystery these days, since his status was something of an open secret among his humans (both living and deceased), but it did make things uncomfortable around other groups.

Such was the case now, and he watched silently, head cocked to the side in classic canine fashion, as a woman whispered something urgently to Vivi. She was hardly subtle about it, the way her eyes kept darting over to him, and, privately, he wondered why she even bothered keeping up the pretense if she honestly thought he was more than just a dog. Certainly she realized that any sentient being would recognize when they were being talked about.

Whatever the blonde said, Vivi laughed it off and made a sweeping gesture, trying to dismiss it. To Mystery, it was painfully obvious that the other woman had hit upon the truth, but, then again, he knew her. The stranger didn't look entirely convinced, but nodded and walked away-- though not without glancing back at them over her shoulder.

Perhaps trying to sell the part, Vivi closed the gap between herself and Mystery to ruffle his ears. He thumped his tail against the ground a handful of times and nipped at her sleeve.

---

Mystery raised his head in satisfaction, preening under the woman's incredulous gaze. It was put to an abrupt end, though, when one of the other investigators screamed. There was an answering gasp from behind them and, without looking, he realized what had happened. Everyone had been so focused on the main problem that--

"Aw, shit." Arthur breathed, looking at the empty air over his shoulder.

"I can't believe we forgot about that."

---

"Lewis, I truthfully do not care how that spell affected your projection, and if you had any common sense, you would realize why that is. If we don't get out of here right now, one of those ghost hunters is liable to catch you, and then what? We may know you're harmless, but I can guarantee that they won't take so kindly to the idea." / "Don't make us tell your family that you're gone again. Not over something so minor."

And, finally, the ghost relented.

While he'd already had a good idea what the spell had done, Mystery hadn't thought to prepare himself for the impact the glamour failure would have. He'd had all the information, true, but it didn't always play nice with the memory of his humans, and seeing Lewis as he'd been at the moment of his death was surprisingly difficult.

Perhaps guessing as much, Lewis raised his arms to block the worst of the fatal wound from view.

It was a nice gesture, but, ultimately, pointless.

"Come, now." Mystery whispered, dismissing the urge to say as much, "The plan is to meet Arthur and Vivi at the main road and leave before any of our friends here think to ask any more questions. I thought it best to let them do the convincing without any-- ah-- 'suspicious' influence, and, unfortunately, that means you and me."

He set off at a brisk pace, trusting the ghost to follow in his (ahem) wake. If it had been Vivi or even Arthur, Mystery might have been more inclined to keep an eye on them for fear of someone getting sidetracked or sheer dumb luck putting them in a tight spot, but Lewis floated dutifully along, still awkwardly trying to hide the bloody hole in his chest.

Maybe it was silly,  but Mystery had to wonder at irony of the situation. Ignoring all signs of death and his own aura, what would the outside observer see? A dog calling the shots and a young man following them. It fit, he supposed; of his humans, Lewis had always been the most agreeable.  

He snuck a sideways glance, eyes lingering on the gap that had torn halfway through the ghost's throat, and turned away so Lewis wouldn't notice the resultant grimace. Without knowing the specifics of the spell, there was no way to tell how long it would interfere with the ability to project an aura that wasn't so… gruesome. For a group of inexperienced youths, the range would be limited, but whether it was a matter of time, distance or any other variable was a complete unknown. If worst came to worst, there was sure to be a counter-spell somewhere, but that wasn't an ideal solution.

Mystery was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost yelped when a finger hooked under his collar and a steady arm swept him up, deeper into the undergrowth. While he refrained from doing anything quite so undignified, he was hardly thrilled with his new position a good five feet in the air, being held like no more than a puppy against Lewis's side.

With the clumsy crashing that sounded from up ahead, he recognized why the ghost had seen fit to make them scarce, but he was fairly certain that there were other ways to accomplish the same goal. Dryly, he looked up to see what Lewis had to say for himself, but all he got was a nearly inaudible "I panicked."

Mystery exhaled slowly and squirmed until he was set back on the ground, by which point the dull beam of a flashlight made its way along the main path, illuminating each tree in turn.

"--sure, Abby? If it could fool paranormal investigators for so long, it has to be a powerful spirit. The closest we've ever come to an actual haunting was just psychic residue; are we really ready for this?"

A pair of girls strode into view, the speaker nervously sweeping the flashlight's beam from side to side while her companion chewed on a strand of hair, eyes raised to the barren canopy in thought, where they reflected the scant moonlight.

"Your eyes." Mystery hissed in sudden alarm. When he looked up, the offending glow was focused on him. "They'll see--"

A piercing yelp suggested that his warning had come a fraction of a second too late. Had they not been sneaking through a woods pursued by excitable ghost hunters, it would have been funny how Lewis not only closed his eyes, but covered them with both hands and whirled around to face the opposite direction, the same way he'd play hide-and-seek with his sisters. As it stood, Mystery had more pressing matters to deal with, mostly concerning the pair of young women brandishing a flashlight in their general direction.

Though, if he knew humans-- specifically paranormal investigators-- well enough, there was one easy solution that came to mind. Admittedly, it had Vivi written all over it, but of everything Mystery could call himself in this form, A Very Loyal Dog was high on the list; it would be a gamble, but he felt it would be worth it.

In one fluid motion, he leapt away from Lewis and landed lightly several feet away. His impact with the ground made a satisfying crackle as the dry debris gave way beneath his paws, drawing the light off course towards where he was hidden.

"W-what was that?"

"Definitely not what we're looking for." The second girl sighed after a second to process the emptiness, though her expression was fixed firmly between relief and panic. "You see how high up those eyes were? You probably scared a raccoon with that flashlight 'a yours; you're deadly with that thing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. What kind of ghost kicks up a racket like that?"

The ghost in question was still hiding the glow of his eyes, but the way he had his shoulders hunched up told Mystery that his little stunt had successfully scared Lewis. Good. That made them even.

He crept nearer, any noise camouflaged by the way their would-be pursuers trundled along in the opposite direction, and brushed lightly against Lewis's leg to announce his presence.

"Sorry, I panicked."

Lewis cracked one eye open and gave Mystery an unimpressed look, but didn't bother to say anything about the transparent jab. That was another crisis averted-- if a minor one, compared to what had already happened-- and there was no use in arguing with results.

Neither breathed another word as they continued towards the grove's edge or even for the first few minutes that they idled at the tree line.

Ears swiveling as he listened for any suggestion of human activity, Mystery kept his eyes on the vehicle parked further up the road. It was likely where the two women they'd encountered had entered from, but it wasn't exactly empty; the cab light diffused into the darkness, revealing the vague outline of a person hunched over a book. Despite himself, Mystery's mind wandered to Arthur's crusade to keep Vivi from draining the van's battery the same way-- which had, more or less, devolved into convincing her to drape herself over Lewis instead.

Not that she needed any excuse.

Speaking of Lewis, he had been assigned look out duty. This served two purposes: one was so they'd actually know when to act and the other was that, if his attention was focused in the opposite direction, there was very little chance of him getting them caught because of that blasted glow. It had been a flimsy excuse and, like the joke earlier, it was obvious that the ghost had seen through it. Mystery was fairly certain that he'd been sulking over it for the past five minutes.

It wasn't that Mystery enjoyed poking fun at his humans, but they could just be so funny at times.

"Headlights." Lewis said quietly. After a second, he added, "Definitely Arthur and Vivi; that mud is still stuck to the left one. You don't think that guy over there is going to be any trouble, do you?"

Mystery picked his way over and glanced down the road before turning back to the potential troublemaker. "I don't want to find out. Let's just eliminate the risk and admit ourselves without making them stop for us."

"You want me to phase us through the van?"

The dog flattened his ears, but nodded. "Not my first choice, I assure you, but at the speed Arthur's going-- or lack thereof-- it shouldn't be a difficult task to accomplish."

Lewis mimicked the gesture and, belatedly, Mystery realized that he'd been pressing his arms against the phantom wound again, like he was trying to hide it from a nonexistent audience. He let the behavior slide this time-- though it did make him wonder about the earlier 'sulking'-- and stayed quiet as Lewis gathered him up and launched the both of them at the slow moving vehicle.

They wound up barreling through the windshield and tumbling to a halt in the back, eliciting twin shrieks from Arthur and Vivi, the latter of whom clamored halfway out of her seat to stare into the hold. Even in the darkness, her smile lit up her entire face as she asked, "Couldn't just wait for us, huh?"

"Arthur, speed up." Mystery said in lieu of a greeting, "We don't want to have any more friendly chats tonight. Vivi, sit properly and put your seatbelt on. And you," He rounded on the space Lewis had to occupy, based solely on the magenta glow. "That wasn't quite as horrible as last time. You're getting better at this."

"Hurray." He answered, amusement creeping into his tone despite the heavy layering of sarcasm. "I'm getting better at being dead."

"Oh, just take the compliment."

Reluctantly, Vivi wriggled back into her seat, head swiveling as she watched the stationary vehicle temporarily light up only to go dark again a second later. The detail didn't escape Arthur's notice, and he spared her a quick look. "See? That's why you use Lewis as a reading light and not the van."

She stuck her tongue out at him before leaning backwards, trying to look into the hold upside-down. "You make a better reading nest than this old thing anyway."

"Hurray." Lewis repeated, though the effort was foiled by the laughter that bubbled up before he'd even gotten the word out.

"You guys are so lucky you got out of the 'intervention'." With one hand, Arthur let go of the wheel to add the obligatory scare quotes. "Those people just wouldn't take 'no, we've got it covered' for an answer. At least we aren't like that. Anymore. Were we ever like that?"

Mystery snorted, finally turning his attention from the rear window as the last trace of the would-be ghost hunters disappeared into the night. "You don't want me to answer that."

And, for awhile, the ride lapsed into a comfortable rhythm. Mystery found his way into the front seat and curled up between Arthur and Vivi, listening to the conversation: complaints and rude remarks about the latest venture, debate over the usage of incense in the van, thinly veiled accusations of Deadbeats hiding important tools and, of course, heated discussion over the radio station.

It only lasted as long as the drive did, but that was better than nothing.

As was often the case, the rest stop they pulled into was deserted; given the hour and location, it was hardly a surprise. The light emanating from the post Arthur parked next to was dim, but enough to see by so long as one was in the van's front.

Vivi abandoned her excavation of the glove compartment-- dropping their abused map and an equally battered notebook she used to track investigations-- and made a desperate bid for freedom, bursting out the passenger-side door into the night.

"I can breathe again!"

Arthur rolled his eyes and grinned lopsidedly at Lewis as he pocketed the keys. "Weird how fresh air is such a commodity here. Any idea why my van smells like an aromatherapist's office? Any ideas? I'm stumped."

His grin tapered off when he realized that, instead of vaulting the front seat to join them, Lewis had shrunk back into the body of the van where only his eyes were visible. It was a far cry from how he'd been leaning backwards against the seat to socialize just minutes prior.

Briefly, Arthur's eyes flicked to Mystery, who stared back at him evenly. It was supposed to be a non-answer, but it told him what he wanted to know. So, keys jingling in his vest pocket, he hopped back into the van and knelt on the seat, mechanical arm hanging limply over the backrest as he leaned into the other.

"So. Today was fun. Plenty of paranormal activity and active paranormalists to keep everyone entertained-- some of us more than others." At the lack of any response-- beyond vague agreement-- Arthur sighed and abandoned his perch entirely, slipping behind it into the hold. "It's what that lady said, isn't it? Listen Lew, you know Vivi and I don't--"

As though summoned by the sound of her name, Vivi called, "Oh boooooys," and ran the length of the van, tapping at the siding with her nails. She stopped at the back doors knocked on them in rapid succession, waited long enough to serve as a dramatic pause, and threw the doors open with a cry of "Come out, come out and plaaaay!"

Arthur winced as the doors creaked on their hinges, and was about to remind Vivi 'easy does it' when he noticed something amiss. Blindly, he reached into the darkness after Lewis and pulled his hand back when it encountered something sharp.

"I was way off base; it wasn't what that girl said, it was the spell. What's wrong? What did it do to you?"

"Spell?" Vivi echoed, brows knit together and previous mischief forgotten, "What spe-- oh. That spell. Don't worry so much, it was just for true sight, and it's not like there's anyone around to see."

There was a scuffle from up front then the sound of paws on asphalt and Mystery's voice rang out before he even rounded the corner of the van. "Exactly, it's nothing to worry about. Arthur, might I suggest that you, Vivi and I take a walk?"

"What. Is. Wrong?"

The dog winced and looked to Vivi for backup, but found none. "Nothing's 'wrong' per se…"

He went safely ignored as Arthur and Vivi shared a look and, in unison, turned to stare into the shadows.

"How 'bout this: we find a place to talk and work all this out?"

There was a beat of silence and the magenta glow disappeared as Lewis sighed, "That's really sweet, Vivi, but I'd rather not."

"Why?"

"I just-- don't want you guys to have to see this. Go ahead and get some fresh air; I'll be fine here."

Vivi sighed and puffed her cheeks up. That made things substantially harder. If Lewis had convinced himself that he was doing this for her and Arthur's benefit, he wasn't going to budge on the issue. Not even death had managed to interfere with the force of nature that was Lewis's protective streak.

Still, she didn't understand the first part. What was there to see? True sight swept illusions away and kept them from being reestablished; even if the skeletal projection was Lewis's natural state-- and she knew for a fact that it wasn't-- there was no reason to hide.

"Please don't press the matter," Mystery said, leaping up into the back. "It will resolve itself. If it makes you feel better, I'll stay here and play 'guard dog' while you're away."

Her frown didn't lessen, but Vivi shrugged. "Who needs 'away'? We have full rein of the parking lot and all the fresh air we can handle-- that's good enough for me."

"You don't have to--"

Arthur snorted, cutting off a protest he'd heard dozens upon dozens of times in the past. "You keep thinkin' that, bud. Say it enough and maybe you'll convince one or two of the Deadbeats. Maybe."

As though he expected that to summon the wispy ghosts, Arthur glanced around and, assured that the little troublemakers weren't about to play any trick on him, blindly reached out to find the wall of the van. Once he successfully located it, he leaned back and slid down to the floor in an undignified-- but comfortable-- heap.

"So how'd you convince Mystery to let you phase him through the van, anyway?"

Scoffing, the dog in question trotted back into the van's darkened innards, leaving Vivi standing, idle and alone, at the back doors.

That just wouldn't do.

'Alone' she could handle but 'idle' she could not-- not when she had an investigation log to update and a conversation to eavesdrop on. That wasn't to say that the conversation in back was a secret or that she wasn't welcome to join, but it was more fun to think that there was some element of subterfuge involved. Besides, she couldn't record the day's events and talk at the same time; the one time she'd tried it, the results had been indecipherable.

Even though it would have been nice to run around a little, she could think of worse things to do. She still got her fresh air as she scribbled away in her notebook, heels knocking against the van's siding as she absently kicked her feet.

All things considered, it was an acceptable substitute-- up until Vivi turned the cab light on to scrutinize the map.

Arthur immediately fell silent, which wouldn't have been entirely unusual, but there wasn't any follow-up commentary from either of his conversation partners or any other indication that somebody had said something strange enough to render the lot of them speechless. Confused, Vivi straightened up in time to see Lewis scramble to cover the gaping hole that tore through his chest. It was a doomed attempt, doing nothing to obscure the dried blood caking his vest or the other, more minor puncture wounds. If anything, it only served to prominently show off the tip of a stalagmite that had, somehow, lodged itself in his arm.

Vivi felt her jaw drop and, on their own accord, her hands flew to her mouth.

"S-sorry." The ghost said, stubbornly refusing to meet anyone's eyes as he hugged his arms tighter around himself. "Sorry. It's pretty bad. I didn't want you to…"

Despite having gone so pale he looked ill, Arthur picked the abandoned train of thought up on Lewis's behalf. "Have to see it. Yeah. You mentioned that." / "Wh-what happened? Are you, y'know, okay?"

--

As promised, they found him at the picnic area across the parking lot. He was sitting at a table full of Deadbeats, chin propped up on one hand as he skimmed through one of Vivi's tomes. In theory, all of that was perfectly fine.

In actuality, five of the six wisps had seated themselves properly on the picnic benches while the sixth threaded itself through their leader's torso, staring blankly at the open book but still looking completely thrilled with the situation.

Lewis didn't even seem aware of it until, in his haste to cover the wound at their approach, he flipped the book upwards and hugged it to his chest. The offending Deadbeat phased through it, squeaked in dismay, and retreated.

[thoughtfulsaladgarden]

Ways to Distinguish 100G QSFP28 LR4, PSM4 and CWDM4 Components Plainly

100G goes to its complete wing to transportation into the conventional. There are 4 many typical sorts of 100G QSFP28 optical transceivers for information facility application today, i.e. QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 LR4, QSFP28 PSM4, and QSFP28 CWDM4. Contrasts in between the 3 last will be reviewed in this flow to aid you pick your 100G application setting appropriately.

https://www.fibermall.com/blog/100g-qsfp28-lr4-psm4-and-cwdm4-modules.htm

1. 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 VS QSFP28 LR4 ● Attributes QSFP28 CWDM4 is certified with the conventional specifically developed for the implementation of 100G information web links within 2km of the information facility. The user interface of the QSFP28 CWDM4 optical component adheres to the duplex single-mode 2km 100G optical user interface requirements, and the transmission range can surely get to 2km. It's one of the most extensively utilized 100G QSFP28 collection optical component in information facilities.

Comparative, 100G QSFP28 LR4 has all the attributes of QSFP28 CWDM and is more affordable and affordable in the application of 2km transmission.

● Running Concept 100G QSFP LR4 and CWDM4 are essentially comparable in the means how they operate. Both of them complex 4 identical 25G networks into a 100G fiber web link via optical tools MUX and DEMUX. QSFP LR4 sends 100G Ethernet indicate over 4 facility wavelengths, i.e. 1295.56nm, 1300.05nm, 1304.58nm, and 1309.14nm. Both user interface designs are highlighted as adheres to:

● Set you back Distinctions Although both of them are the conventional 100G QSFP28 optical application for IDC, the set you back in between both components are various, which is shown in the adhering to facets:

◇ The optical MUX/DEMUX tools released by QSFP CWDM4 are more economical compared to that of the QSFP28 LR4.

◇ The laser in the LR4 component is more pricey and eats more power.

◇ LR4 needs extra TEC (semiconductor thermoelectric cooler)

Based upon the over contrast, optical components certified with the QSFP28 LR4 conventional are more pricey, while the 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 conventional suggested by MSA has actually well complemented the space triggered by the high set you back of QSFP28 LR4 within 2km transmission.

2. 100G QSFP28 PSM4 VS QSFP28 CWDM4 ● Attributes for 100G PSM4 & CWDM4 Along with the QSFP28 CWDM4 transceiver, 100G QSFP28 PSM4 is among the option remedies in intermediate transmission range. However what are the benefits and drawbacks of PSM4 compared to CWDM4?

QSFP28 PSM4 optical transceiver is a four-channel 100G adjoin service over a identical SMF and it's generally utilized for 500m web link application. 8-core SMF constructs 4 independent channels(4 for transferring and 4 for receiving)for 100Gbps optical interconnects, and the transmission price of each network is 25 Gbps.

Each indicate instructions makes use of 4 independent networks of the exact same wavelength of 1310nm. As a result, both transceivers normally interact using 8-fiber MTP/MPO single-mode optical fiber wire. The optimal transmission range of PSM4 is 500m.

● Running Concept for 100G PSM4 For 100G QSFP28 PSM4's practical concept, please describe the adhering to number to understand how it sends indicates.

● Set you back & Innovation Distinctions Quickly talking, the 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 optical component is created with an integrated wavelength department multiplexer, production it more pricey compared to QSFP28 PSM4 optical components. Nonetheless, CWDM4 transceivers call for just 2 single-mode fibers for bidirectional transmission, which is much much less compared to the 8 single-mode fibers of PSM4. And QSFP28 CWDM4 sends 100G Ethernet indicate over 4 wavelengths of 1271nm, 1291nm, 1311nm, and 1331nm specifically.

As the web link range boosts, the complete set you back of the PSM4 service climbs quickly. As a result, whether to pick a PSM4 or CWDM4 interconnection service must be selected your real require in the application. The adhering to graph programs several of the technical distinctions in between both components.

Verdict For optical component providers, broadband, reduced power usage, and affordable are the major requirements for future information facility optical component demands. There are various remedies in regards to transmission range, inflection setting, running temperature level, and create element, which should be picked based upon variables such as application circumstances and set you back.

[aviationdailynews-blog]

Aviation Weather - METAR

Aviation weather METARs or Meteorological Terminal Air Reports

Definition

Meteorological Terminal Air Report (METAR) are the aviation weather reports issued frequently throughout the day that are a current snapshot of the current conditions at an airfield.

What is contained in a METAR?

The elements of these aviation weather reports are normally given in the order below.

Code Name

The indicator group for example METAR, SPECI, or TREND as appropriate. Where a number of METARs are issued in the same bulletin, this, along with a date time group may be in the bulletin header.

Location

The ICAO airport code of the reporting station (KJFK - JFK Airport).

Date/Time of Report

The day of the month and the time of the aviation weather observation in hours and minutes based on UTC time, this is shown as 011530z which would be the first of the month at 1530z.

AUTO

If a report contains the code word AUTO, this indicates that the report has been generated using data from an automated weather observation system.

Surface Wind

The reported wind is the mean wind direction in degrees true to the nearest 10 degrees, from which the wind is blowing and the mean wind speed in knots over the 10 minute period immediately before the observation, Metar wind reports will be shown for example as 35015KT, in plain language this would equate to 350 degrees true(direction) at 15 kts(speed).

Alternatively a wind report such as VRB05KT means that surface wind conditions cannot be shown, in this example VRB05kts would translate into a plain language equivalent of variable wind direction with a wind speed of 5kts.

Having a surface wind readout of “00000” means that the surface wind conditions are calm.

If gusts exceed the mean wind speed by 10kts or more in the 10 minutes leading up to the observation time of the report, the letter G and 2 more numbers are added to indicate the maximum wind speed, for example 23018G30KT translates to a wind from 230 degrees true with a maintained wind of 18 kts but the wind is also gusting up to a maximum of 30 kts.

Reports vary around the world as different regions offer wind speed in different measurement units, therefore it must me mentioned that Metar reports may express wind speed in metres per second (MPS) or Kilometres per hour (KPH).

Wind speeds of 100 kts or more shall be preceded by the letter P and reported as P99KT or P99MPS or P199KPH.

Visibility

Reported in a four figure group (for example 0300 = 300 metres; 9000 = 9 km) up to but excluding 10 km, therefore a reported visibility of “9999” is considered as having a visibility of 10km or more. In very poor conditions “0000” may be reported, this means that there is less than 50 meters visibility.

Runway Visual Range (RVR)

This number may be included in reports during poor or reduced visibility. This report will be preceeded by the letter R (runway) followed by two numbers (runway identifier), there will then be a “/” followed by 4 digits. This means that a report such as R18/0250 would mean that Runway18 has an RVR of 250 meters.

In the case of parallel runways these will be shown as R18L with the L being for runway 18Left, (there can only be 3 options here L, C, or R - Left, Center & Right)

RVR will only normally be issued for visibility less than 1500, therefore a visibility above this number (if presented on a metar) will have a P before the 1500 figure, so a readout such as R18R/P1500, would mean that runway 18Right has an RVR of greater than 1500.

RVR in most situations has a minimum readout of 50, which means that an M before the 4 digit visibility means the value is below what the measurement equipment can gather, in this case a report of 18C/M0050 would mean that runway 18Center has an RVR less than 50.

RVR values can have the letters U, D, or N following their readout, this is a code to show if the RVR is increasing, decreasing, or no change is expected.

Current

Weather

The current weather is indicated by up to 3 groups comprising symbols and letters from the following:

- = slight

+ = Heavy

BC = Patches

BL = Blowing

BR = Mist

DR = Low Drifting

DS = Dust Storm

DU = Widespread Dust

DZ = Drizzle

FG = Fog

FC = Funnel Cloud (e.g. Tornado)

FU = Smoke

FZ = Freezing

GR = Hail

GS = Small Hail

HZ = Haze

IC = Ice Crystals

MI = Shallow

PL = Ice Pellets

PO = Dust Devils

RA = Rain

SA = Sand

SG = Snow Grains

SH = Shower

SN = Snow

SQ = Squall

SS = Sandstorm

TS = Thunderstorm

VA = Volcanic Ash

VC = In the vicinity (nearby)

UP = Unidentified Precipitation

RE = Recent

These codes can be coupled, so for example +SHRAGR could be output, this would mean that there is currently (+)heavy (SH)showers of (RA)rain & (GR)hail.

Clouds

Cloud amount is reported in oktas, this means that if you looked at the sky and split this view in 8, each section would be 1 okta, how many oktas are covered will give certain reports which are shown here:

1. FEW = few clouds (1-2 oktas),

2. SCT = scattered cloud (3-4 oktas),

3. BKN = broken clouds (5-7 oktas),

4. OVC = overcast (8 oktas).

Following this 3 letter code will show a 3 digit number which represent the cloud base which is reported as a height (in feet) above aerodrome elevation. For example a readout of SCT018 means that there is scattered clouds at 1800 ft. *Note that in area and route forecasts, heights are AMSL or standard pressure altitudes.

Selection of cloud layers reported is made as follows:

· The lowest Layer;

· The next lowest layer of SCT or more;

· The next higher layer of BKN or more;

· Significant convective cloud (CB or TCU) if not already reported.

“Sky obscured” is input on a METAR as VV(vertical visibility)this figure again is is a set of digits which represents hundreds of feet. If the vertical visibility has not been measured, the report will read VV///, which means it has not been measured.

When there are no clouds that are of operational significance to aviation, this means no CB (cumulonimbus) or TCU (towering cumulus) and CAVOK is not appropriate, the abbreviation NSC (No Significant Cloud) will be used.

CAVOK

The Visibility, Cloud, and Weather groups are replaced by the term CAVOK (cloud and visibility OK) when the following weather conditions exist at the same time:

· Visibility is 10km or more.

· No CB or TCU and no cloud below 5000 feet or Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA) (whichever is the greater).

· No significant weather at or in the vicinity of the aerodrome.

Temperature

Air temperature and dewpoint are reported in METARs to whole degrees Celsius, for example 10/07 would read as “temperature 10°C with a Dew point of 7°C”.

QNH

QNH is stated to the nearest whole hectopascal (equivalent to a millibar) rounded down and preceded by the letter Q to make things shorter, for example Q1013 equals QNH 1013 hectopascals.

Recent Weather

Significant recent weather observed in the period since the last routine observation will be reported by using the code letters for weather (table above) preceded by the letters RE. So for example RETS would mean recent thunderstorm.

Wind Shear

In a METAR, civil aerodromes may include wind shear if reported along the take off or approach paths in the lowest 1600 ft with reference to the runway. WS is used to begin the group, e.g. WS TKOF RWY20. If the wind shear is affecting all runways, WS ALL RWY is reported.

Aerodrome Color State

UK military and USAF aerodromes will include the abbreviated colour state at the end of the message and add the forecast colour state after the TREND section.

Runway State Group (RSG)

An 8-figure group which may be added to METAR from civil aerodromes.

· Runway designator (first two digits)

27 = Rwy 27 or 27L

77 = Rwy 27R (50 added to the designator for "right" runway)

88 = All runways

99 = repetition of the last message as no new information received.

· Runway Deposits (third digit)

0 = Clear and dry

1 = Damp

2 = Wet or water patches

3 = Rime or frost covered (depth normally less than 1mm)

4 = Dry snow

5 = Wet snow

6 = Slush

7 = Ice

8 = compacted or rolled snow

9 = frozen ruts or ridges

/ = type of deposit not reported

· Extent of runway contamination (fourth digit)

1 = 10% or less

2 = 11% to 25%

5 = 26% to 50%

9 = 51% to 100%

/ = not reported

· Depth of Deposit:

The quoted depth is the mean of a number of readings or, if operationally significant, the greatest depth measured.

00 = less than 1mm

01 = 1mm etc

to

90 = 90mm

91 = not used

92 = 10cm

93 = 15cm

94 = 20cm

95 = 25cm

96 = 30cm

97 = 35cm

98 = 40cm or more

99 = Rwy(s) non-operational due to snow, slush, ice, large drifts or runway clearance, but depth not reported.

// = depth of deposit operationally not significant or measurable.

· Friction Coefficient or Braking Action (seventh and eighth digits)

The mean value is transmitted or, if operationally significant, the lowest value, e.g.:

28 = friction coefficient 0.28

38 = friction coefficient 0.38

or

91 = Braking action: Poor

92 = Braking action: Medium/Poor

93 = Braking action: Medium

94 = Braking action: Medium/Good

95 = Braking action: Good

99 = Figures unreliable

// = Braking action not reported

If contamination conditions do not exist, the abbreviation CLRD can be used:.

25CLRD93 = Rwy 25 cleared; Braking action: Medium/Good

88CLRD95 = All rwys cleared; Braking Action: Good

TREND

TREND forecasts are indicated by BECMG (Becoming) or TEMPO (temporary) which may be followed by a time group (hours and minutes UTC) preceded by one of the letter indicated FM (from), TL (until), AT (at)

For example BECMG FM1030 TL1130 would mean that the weather will become, from 1030UTC until 1130UTC - followed by the weather within that time.

NOSIG replaces the TREND group when no significant changes are forecast to occur during the 2 hour forecast period.

To indicate the end of significant weather the abbreviation NSW (No Significant Weather) will be used used.

Only those elements for which a significant change is expected should be included in a TREND.

[ap56-blog]

MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT (MSA) TRAINING

The objective of the Measurement Systems Assessment (MSA) Training curriculum is to provide participants with the analytical tools and methods necessary to:

Understand key sources of measurement error

Design and Conduct Gage R&R studies to estimate measurement error components (repeatability, reproducibility)

Interpret Gage R&R results and identify corrective actions if necessary

Plan and Conduct Gage R&R studies for attribute systems

Apply control charts to monitor Measurement Systems over time

Assess Accuracy and Linearity of Measurement Systems

Handle Non-Replicable Systems (such as Destructive Tests)

MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT TRAINING BENEFITS

Learn how to ensure Measurement Systems (Gages, Operators, Fixtures) are adequate prior to using data for decision making

Develop a solid understanding of the types of Measurement Systems Assessments that may be conducted

Improve the planning, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of Gage R&R studies

Ensure prerequisites for a measurement system study are satisfied

Understand and Consider All Types of Measurement Error (Repeatability, Reproducibility, Bias, Non-linearity, Instability)

Learn techniques for handling destructive testing or other non-replicable measurement systems

Compare and Correlate Multiple Measurement Systems

Assess both Variable and Attribute Measurement Systems

Practice and Apply methods through exercises and case studies

[pi-cat000]

MSA time travel idea (part 20)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Vivi POV, 8, 9, 10, Lewis POV, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Lance POV 18, 19

Part 21: here

LEWIS POV

“No. I would never… I,” Arthur starts explaining, hesitating, stuttering. He’s going to lie like he’s been doing the last two weeks. It’s not enough. Lewis wants, needs, the truth. He takes a deliberate, almost agressive, step forward, and Arthur flinches back and away. There is nothing but fear and confusion. Not the hate he expected. Fear. Arthur’s scare of him.

Why? What did he do wrong?

“What was that?” Vivi’s loud question draws him from the turbulent realisations swirling painfully about his brain. Lewis glances up from where he’s been absently tracing the floral patterns on the carpet. The hotel seems overly stuffy after his and Arthur’s disagreement. If you could call it a disagreement.

Vivi is standing, hands on her hips, visibly unimpressed.

“I messed up,” Lewis answers, scowling down again. Because, as much as he wanted answers, yelling accusations at a disorientated Arthur was not something a friend did. He should have waited for Arthur to calm down and collect himself. Instead, Lewis had deliberately tried to provoke a reaction, confirming that Arthur was terrified of him and managing to feel like garbage all at once. His friend’s terrified expression is burned at the forefront of his mind.

“…He was scared Viv. Really scared. It’s not hate…He’s scared.”

“Lewis…” Vivi’s tone loses some of its heat, becoming soft like she’s going to try and console him.

“No,” Lewis snaps, “You saw it. He was scared. And he’s probably terrified now that I…” He motions angrily at nothing.

Lewis is a big guy, he’s used to making people nervous. Usually, all it takes is a bit of common courtesy, polite mannerism, and some kind words for people to warm up to him. Never, not in a million years, had he anticipated the same hesitation and caution from Arthur. And he’s given it time like Vivi suggested. Waited almost two weeks. Arthur simply refused to interact with him, blocking all his attempts at reconciling. Now Lewis has gone and ruined his chances at fixing things. What was he supposed to do now?

“Stop that.”

A sharp poke in the shoulder breaks the flustered spiral of negative thought. Lewis glares. Vivi’s now sitting on the adjacent bed opposite him. Their knees are touching. She pulls back from her poke, stating, “You face is going to freeze if you frown for much longer.”

She waves away his incoming objections, grimacing as she does, “I don’t think that was a good indicator of whether Arthur is afraid or hates you. He was panicking...” She trails off then continues, stronger, “I think we should wait until Arthur’s in a better place to explain before jumping to conclusions.”

Lewis breaks eye contact, feeling a renewed sense of guilt. If his mama were here, she’d be equally unimpressed.

“I could have gone about that a lot better…”

Vivi nodes genuinely and Lewis winces, continuing, “But, I mean, you’ve noticed how he’s been avoiding us this last week.”

“Both of us. Not just you,” Vivi starts, and Lewis cuts her off.

“Arthur's fine with you. More than fine even. Whenever you're around, he’s at ease, less jumpy. I kind of thought he was jealous of us, but he always insists we do stuff together, so that’s not it.”

Vivi is silent, considering his statement.

Frustration, with his failure to adequately describe the situation or find a way to talk things out calmly before shit hit the fan, drives him on. Lewis continues, “When he’s around me he’s always looking down at his feet or flinching or finding an excuse to leave the room. I tried giving it time, but it’s been a week now. I must have done something because why else would he be acting like this.”

The fear in Arthur's eyes wasn’t something he’s going to forget in a hurry. It was a look reserved for a monster. He’s not a monster. Was he?

“But what have you done? I mean, I haven’t noticed a change.” Vivi doesn’t even deny it now, and it doesn’t make Lewis feel any better.

“That’s just it. I don’t know. I haven’t done anything which might have sparked a change in behaviour.”

“Then it can't be you, can it,” Vivi says frankly.

“What? No. Are you even listening? He was scared of me Viv, terrified, you saw it!”

Vivi huffs, tired but determined, “I’m not saying that he wasn’t scared…just that, maybe, it’s something else. If you’ve been acting how you always act and done nothing differently, then there is obviously another variable at play here. His fear of you is just a correlation. The cause must be related to something else.”

Lewis ignores Vivi’s logic in favour of muttering,  “What if he thinks I forced him to come on this road trip? Is Arthur scared of road trips? Maybe he thinks, I don’t know, I’ll beat him up or something if he makes me mad.”

Vivi pokes him hard in the cheek this time, “We planned the road trip as a trio and, as soon as we knew Arthur had an aversion to supernatural things, we changed it. If anything, he would be avoiding me. I’m the one who’s been obsessing over it for the last mouth, lugging those books around everywhere. Also, Lewis, you haven’t thrown a punch since high school, and that was in Arthur’s defence, so I don’t think that’s it.”

There’s a contemplative silence and both he and Vivi turn to stare at the motel door in unison. He wants to believe Vivi, but his heart still aches, replaying scenes in which Arthur violently throws himself to the floor to escape him. Terrified. If it’s not something Lewis has done wrong, then how is he supposed to fix it?

“Mystery,” Vivi comments, half lost in thought. The dog perks up from his curled position on the bed, and Vivi looks apologetic before turning to Lewis, “Arthur’s been avoiding Mystery as well. Like, I thought it was odd, he hasn’t pet Mystery once in the last two weeks. Then there’s his forgetfulness as well. It’s been really obtrusive lately. I was going to bring it up once we had settled into the road a bit more.”

Lewis examines the small dog. He had noticed Arthur being a lot less friendly towards the Mystery. It just hadn’t been a top concern of his.

“But what’s the link between all that?”

“I don’t know. But I bet there is one,” Vivi declares before deflating, adding quietly, “I thought it was the supernatural stuff. I wanted it to be the supernatural stuff cause that’s an easy fix. But it’s not that. I should have tried harder to get better answers.”

Silence.

“I haven’t seen him panic that bad since his dad tried to run off with him,” She sighs, fiddling with her sleeve, “Sorry I didn’t believe you when you brought this up a week ago…”

Vivi sounds lost, and Lewis feels even worse for letting his emotions get the better of him.

He takes her hand, “It’s okay…I mean…you know Arthur’s super suborn when he wants to be. And I do tend to overreact emotionally on occasion.”

She smiles that warm smile he loves.

“Only sometimes…” She teases lightly. The warmth lasts for a second before fading back to worry and concern. Lewis glances back towards the door.

“When he comes back in…I think you should ask all the questions. Maybe I’ll leave the room. If I’m somehow triggering whatever is scaring Arthur, then it’s better if I’m not around for the questioning.” Also, though he’s feeling calmer now, he doesn’t think he can handle Arthur looking at him like that again without breaking down himself.

Vivi nodes unhappily before straightening, confidence growing again as she pushes past her momenty falter.

“We’ll stay in this ugly motel for the next month if we have to,” She asserts, “Eventually Arthur will have to tell us the truth, even if it’s simply because there’s no high-speed internet out here.”

Lewis lets a small smile tug at his lips. Any further planning is interrupted by Mystery who abruptly stands, darting towards the door and barking loudly. Before either of them can address the uncharacteristic behaviour, they hear the rumble of a familiar engine starting up. Lewis and Vivi share a glance, instantly reaching the same conclusion.

Vivi is at the door, retching it open a second later, Lewis at her back. They tumble out onto the pavement just in time to see the back end of Arthur’s van turn onto the main road. That doesn’t stop Vivi from chasing after it. She sprints off across the concrete, yelling Arthur’s name.  Lewis remains still, tracking the van as it speeds back the way they’d come, leaving Vivi to eat dust. Immediately, Lewis pulls out his phone, flicking through his contacts and holding it anxiously to his ear. It rings for several long seconds and goes to Arthur’s voice mail. He curses, slowly lowering his arm.

Vivi’s trudges back towards him, furiously tapping away at her own phone.

“He’s not answering!” She’s visibly unhappy, more then she had been seconds ago, “He said he’d answer our questions. Now he’s driving off god knows where. Do you think he’ll come back?”

Lewis looks back towards the main road, heart sinking. Morning sunlight is reflecting off car windows as they zip by. Across from the motel is a gas station and another equally dilapidated building. This pattern repeats a short way down before the buildings drop off to be replaced by empty flatland. He doesn’t think Arthur’s coming back. What if it’s because Lewis has scared him off. Because he couldn’t hold his temper for two seconds!

Vivi interprets his silence as the negative it is, snapping a frustrated, “Why though? Why would he leave so suddenly.”

She begins to pace back and forth, trying to answer her own questions, “If he says he’s going to stay, why would he leave without telling us? Unless he can’t tell us. Something really bad maybe…but what? What aren’t you telling us, Arthur? Damn it. Why?”

Lewis feels his throat closing up like he’s inhaled a sharp lump.

“No. Don’t you start again,” Vivi states before he can say anything disparaging about himself, “This isn’t your fault. Got it.”

Abruptly, she turns and stomps back to the motel room. Lewis swallows, looking down at Mystery who offers him a confused lopsided stare, before following behind.  When he enters the room, Vivi is on the floor, pulling apart Arthur’s bag.

“What are you doing?” Lewis hesitates in the door.

“There’s got to be something,” Vivi says while focused on the bag. Lewis is leerily about going through Arthur’s stuff knowing how private the other man is. A worried Vivi has no such qualms.

“He’s left his laptop. He never goes anywhere without his laptop,” She mutters, throwing Arthur’s clothes across the ground in her hurry.

She pulls up a small plastic bottle and shakes. It rattles.

“Did know he was taking these again?”

“Anxiety medication?” He questions, squinting at the script on the bottle’s side. He shakes his head mutely. It’s dated to last week. Lewis bets, if he doubled checked, it would match up to the day Arthur went on his mysterious shopping trip. Vivi pulls out several pieces of loose paper, rifling through them, pausing when one catches her attention. Wordlessly, she holds it up to Lewis.

It’s a referral to a psychologist dated to the same day as the pills.

“Why? Why wouldn’t he tell us?” Vivi asks, and Lewis has nothing to alleviate her worry. All he knows for sure is, whatever is wrong, it’s making Arthur scared of him. Now Arthur’s gone, and he can't even apologise.

“Something’s not right,” Vivi mumbles to herself.

Note: Reverse blame game: Instead of blaming other people you blame yourself. Better hurry guys. Clock’s ticking.  

Part 21: here

[siscert45]

What are the 5 core tools associated with IATF 16949?

IATF 16949 requires the use of five core tools that are essential for achieving and maintaining a quality management system. These tools are:

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP): APQP is a structured approach to product design and development that helps ensure that customer requirements are met. It includes planning and control activities, such as defining product and process requirements, identifying potential failure modes, and developing control plans.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): FMEA is a risk assessment tool used to identify and prioritize potential failures in a product or process. It helps to identify the potential causes of failure and evaluate the potential impact of those failures.

Measurement System Analysis (MSA): MSA is a tool used to assess the effectiveness of a measurement system. It helps to ensure that measurements are accurate, reliable, and consistent.

Statistical Process Control (SPC): SPC is a tool used to monitor and control process variability. It involves collecting and analyzing data to identify and correct variations in a process before they result in defects.

Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): PPAP is a standardized approach to verifying that production processes are capable of producing parts that meet customer requirements. It includes documenting the production process, conducting initial sample testing, and submitting results for approval. Using these five core tools helps organizations identify and mitigate risks, monitor and control processes, and ensure that products meet customer requirements. The implementation of these tools is an essential part of an effective quality management system and is a requirement for compliance with IATF 16949.

[hakesbros]

San Antonio Sees Decline In Home Sales This August

If you’re shopping for rental actual estate, you'll find more homes that are cheaper than common here than you would in other scorching Texas markets. The San Antonio real property market is seeing property valuations skyrocket because of the challenge of meeting the demand of everyone transferring right here for work or mere opportunity. The San Antonio housing market is making an new homes san antonio attempt to cope with a metropolis growing at roughly 2% a year. The median age of a San Antonio resident is 33 whereas the common U.S. resident is almost 38 years old. San Antonio is the seventh-most populous city in the United States. According to Wikipedia, it was the fastest-growing city among those within the prime ten.

The San Antonio region skilled a slight decline in home gross sales in April. 7.6 % fewer homes have been bought in April 2022 than in April 2021, when 3,524 had been sold. The common home worth is currently $395,847, a 20% increase from the previous year homes for sale san antonio. The median home value elevated by 23 percent from the previous yr to $338,700. Located in the highly sought after space of Culebra, simply northwest of San Antonio, our new single-family homes for sale have everything you need!

We know there is a lack of housing relative to demand when a balanced market has a 6 month home inventory and San Antonio has only a two-month stock. There are many lower-cost investment opportunities for landlords or rental property buyers. For those homes for sale san antonio tx who need to invest in rental real property, the San Antonio real estate market is a perfect location because of its outsized navy presence.

In addition, the value per square foot elevated by 23 p.c since April 2021. Apart from a low supply of accessible homes for sale within the San Antonio area, the next reason why the market is in a growth is that the inhabitants in the area continues to increase. Let’s take a look at the latest San Antonio real estate market tendencies. The pandemic has didn't decelerate the San Antonio housing market.

Real property prices are deeply cyclical and far of it is depending on components you can’t management. Many variables might potentially impression the value of a house in San Antonio in similar to huge changes within the distressed, new-construction, or luxury home segments. There are also all kinds home builders in san antonio of economic and political factors that may and do impact real property markets. Most of those variables are tough to predict in advance. The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA report revealed 3,308 closed sales, four,276 new listings, four,460 active listings, and three,221 pending sales for the month of April.

It has been among the nation's fastest-growing cities for college-educated millennials. The metropolis offers a thriving job market, scrumptious Tex-Mex, a family-friendly surroundings, and a slew of festivals and community gatherings. AreaVibes offers San Antonio high scores for its many facilities, low value of residing, inexpensive actual property, glorious colleges, and sunny weather.

Roughly one quarter of properties in this metropolis were constructed in the Nineteen Sixties and 1970s, whereas a lot of the remaining buildings had been built pre-1960 and within the 1980s new home builders san antonio. This a part of Bexar county provides primarily two bedroom and three bed room homes. Around 60% of the models within the metropolis are occupied by homeowners and the rest are rented.

[nikunjbhoraniya]

Attribute Data vs Variable Data Explained with Example

[a-single-scientific-witch]

QUARTZ - THE PRIME - THE VARIED - THE TIMEKEEPER

Quartz is one type of structure under the larger category of silicates. While the overall chemical formula for a pure chunk of quartz is SiO2, the molecular structure is more along the lines of SiO4 tetrahedrons. Each corner of a tetrahedron is shared with 4 other tetrahedra, making a huge, repeating structure of pyramids.

While Quartz is a crystal -- it is comprised of repeating units -- it is not ionic. That is, not like a rock salt crystal or a monolithic sapphire. The bonds between atoms are covalent, their orbitals, clouds of electron probability, are shared between atoms. A strong bond, but non-homogenous make-up of a quartz crystal leaves more space in the voids, leaving it softer than, say, diamond. Likewise, it it is still outclassed in terms of hardness by highly charged and densely packed salt crystals, such as sapphire and it's derivatives. Technically, a perfect piece of quartz is a single molecule.

But perhaps its beauty is not the fact that it's the best at something. Rather it is through it's ubiquity.

It's really common, being the second most abundant mineral in the Earth.

And really cheap.

A SOLID SOLUTION

Like adding smoke to air or dye to water, Quartz can be turned into a variety of different colors, patterns, and hues. Pure Quartz is transparent, but there are many imperfections and intrusions that make quartz imperfectly perfect.

AMETHYST - LIGHT AND IRON

All amethyst chunks are created through irradiation, either natural or artificial. Fe3+ (Trivalent Iron or Iron missing 3 electrons) replace a silicon atom with the help of a high energy photon, becoming Fe4+ in the process. The purple color comes from all light being absorbed by the iron, but only reflecting the short wavelength violet color seen.

CITRINE - LIGHT AND HEAT

Citrine is much like amethyst, but instead of tetravalent Fe4+, Fe3+ makes up the dominant color appearence. Artifical Citrine is usually heat treated amethyst (200+ C) , with heat giving enough energy for the Fe4+ to break out of the crystal structure and form Fe2O3 particles.

PRASIOLITE - FROM HEAT AND ASH

Natural prasiolite is rare, most of the stuff today is citrine heated further (500+ C). The green color comes from the continued reduction (gaining electrons) of iron impurities, turning from Fe3+ to Fe2+.

MILKY - PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

Milky Quartz, for all of it's natural white color, is chalk full of gas and liquid inclusions, scattering light as it passes through the crystal. Can't see through it if the original image is in a million pieces.

SMOKEY - A LITTLE MORE ELEMENTAL

Smokey Quartz is made from the irradiation of clear quartz. However, without any iron to take the place of silicon, the silicon atoms dislodge themselves and clump together, forming grey color centers. Other processes have trace Aluminium taking the spot of silicon, much like iron in amethyst.

ROSE - MELODY MIX

The rose coloration of Rose quartz can come from a variety of impurities, mostly trace Titanium, Iron, Manganese, and perhaps some phosphorous and Aluminum.

BLUE - FROZEN SKY

Rayleigh scattering, the same mechanism that turns the sky blue, can account for at least some pieces of blue quartz. Tiny chunks and ribbons of other rocks permeate the quartz, small enough to not interfere with long wavelengths of light, such as red, orange, and yellow, but for shorter wavelengths, such as green and blue, scatter through the crystal, making the bulk of it look blue. Even shorter wavelenghts such as purple and violet get absorbed or scattered.

These are just a few variations of macrocrystalline quartz (or just what is usually termed quartz) and the mechanism behind their colors are just as numerous. A single variation may have 3-4 different explainations for why they look like so. Natural crystals are always much harder to explain than artifical ones since so many variables remain uncontrolled and unknown.

But that's apart of the magic isn't it?

Let's go find some more shall we?

I'll be back eventually with Pt. 2 where we explore Quartz's modern magic -- from electronics to timepieces to investigating the fabric of the universe.

Sources:

http://www.quartzpage.de/index.html

Zolensky, Michael E., et al. “Origin and Significance of Blue Coloration in Quartz from Llano Rhyolite (Llanite), North-Central Llano County, Texas.” American Mineralogist, vol. 73, 1988, pp. 313–323.

Lehmann, Gerhard. “Yellow Color Centers in Natural and Synthetic Quartz.” Physik Der Kondensierten Materie, vol. 13, no. 4, 1971, pp. 297–306., doi:10.1007/bf02422610.

http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/collectors_corner/arc/quartza.htm