// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Scrap
Scrap refers to defective materials or products that cannot be used or reworked and must be discarded. It represents waste in the manufacturing process.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Manufacturing scrap denotes material waste or defective products generated during production processes, failing to meet quality specifications and incurring material and production cost losses.
BACKGROUND
Scrap consists of recyclable materials, usually metals, left over from product manufacturing and consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap can have monetary value, especially recovered metals, and non-metallic materials are also recovered for recycling. Once collected, the materials are sorted into types – typically metal scrap will be crushed, shredded, and sorted using mechanical processes.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Waste
- Rejects
- Defective material
- Spoilage
- Off-spec material
- Non-conforming product
USAGE NOTE
Minimizing scrap is a key objective in lean manufacturing to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Scrap.
Develops AI-powered computer vision platforms that enable manufacturers to build and deploy visual inspection systems. These systems identify subtle product defects in real-time, reducing scrap and improving quality control.
Provides a frontline operations platform that allows factory floor engineers to create no-code applications for work instructions, quality checks, and machine monitoring. This empowers workers to reduce errors, track defects, and minimize scrap in real-time.
A leading provider of machine vision systems, software, and sensors used for automated inspection and quality control. Their technology is widely used to detect defects, guide assembly robots, and track parts, which directly reduces scrap rates.
Applies artificial intelligence and robotics to sort recyclable materials. While focused on broader recycling, their technology is used to identify and sort industrial scrap, improving the efficiency and value recovery of manufacturing waste streams.
Offers a cloud-based Smart Manufacturing Platform (MES/ERP) that provides real-time visibility into production. Its quality management system (QMS) features help manufacturers track, manage, and analyze scrap to identify root causes and improve processes.
Specializes in advanced metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) solutions. Their technology enables the production of complex parts with minimal support structures, inherently reducing material waste and scrap compared to traditional subtractive manufacturing methods.
Provides an AI-based machine health platform that uses sensors to monitor equipment and predict failures. By preventing unexpected machine breakdowns that can ruin production runs, it helps reduce the amount of scrap generated from process interruptions.
Develops machine monitoring software, DataXchange, that captures and reports real-time manufacturing data. This OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) data helps manufacturers identify inefficiencies and process variations that lead to the creation of scrap.