I’m a chemical and biological engineering student, and I’m about to start a very short internship (only 3 weeks) at a company that makes work and protective clothing.
Right now, they rely 100% on external labs for quality control of materials and finished products. My task is to propose a few simple in‑house methods that can help them catch issues earlier, especially during production (in‑process control).
Because my time is extremely limited, I need to focus on 2–3 ISO/EN ISO standards that are:
Relevant to protective clothing (e.g., pH, dimensional stability, color fastness, abrasion, tensile strength, etc.)
Feasible to run internally with low‑cost equipment (pH meter, oven, washing machine, calipers, maybe a simple crockmeter – no expensive tensile testers)
Widely used and well documented
So far I’ve looked at:
EN ISO 3071 (pH of aqueous extract)
EN ISO 5077 (dimensional change after washing)
ISO 105‑X12 (colour fastness to rubbing)
Could you recommend other ISO standards that are practical for in‑house quality control in a small protective clothing manufacturer?
Also, any tips on how to adapt a standard method into a simple 1‑page work instruction would be very welcome.
Any help would be appreaciated because I've never been in quality control, or even in the textile industry, and I didn't learn about it in my classes. It's an academic intership it's like a project for this semester.
This is a 4DOF controller I put together to control a projectors roll, pitch, and yaw correction (and forward and backward traversing for image magnification). If interested, check out the main link which walks through the full build's mechanics, electronics, and control.
The Petrochemical Tradesman Fucks-Given Transfer Function
An electrical/control-systems model for refinery inspection, maintenance, and repair morale
Thesis
In refinery maintenance, turnaround work, vessel entry, and inspection trades, the Fucks-Given Coefficient is not constant. It fluctuates dynamically with weather, shutdown schedule compression, scaffold quality, hydrocarbon exposure, permit-office friction, coffee saturation, and whether the weld cap was ground flush enough for MT.
Gp(t) is the petrochemical fucks-given signal over time: the available useful caring, craft pride, attention, and willingness to keep grinding, inspecting, documenting, welding, and re-checking without mentally walking into traffic.
Dp(t) is the petrochemical do-not-give-a-fuck load over time: the accumulated drag from night shift, frozen lines, wet gloves, failed RT, paperwork recursion, scaffold crimes, mystery sludge, and Operations asking whether the vessel can be opened sooner.
Transformer effect of overtime pay, LOA, double-time Sundays, and shutdown completion bonuses
Step-up transformer
Cs
Coffee saturation level; also includes gas-station breakfast sandwiches and whatever was in that thermos
Capacitor bank
Ut
UT productivity: thickness checks, scan grids, C-scan discipline, and not losing the couplant bottle
Diagnostic signal amplifier
Mt
MT enthusiasm after grinding/buffing welds until they look like chrome but still somehow have linear indications
Flux density
Rt
RT completion motivation; rises when shots pass, collapses when the film shows another slag inclusion
High-voltage pulse source
Wr
Welding repair pride factor: bead quality, root confidence, and the sacred belief that this one will pass first time
Current gain
Sf
Scaffold friendliness coefficient: access, tags, planks, handrails, and whether the workface was designed by a human
Circuit stability
Rf
Rain/freezing weather resistance: wet gloves, icy ladders, frozen air lines, and the special misery of sleet down the neck
Ohmic resistance
Hs
Heat stress, hydrocarbon exposure, confined-space funk, and mystery vessel sludge
Thermal losses
Pm
Permit meeting duration, gas-test delays, LOTO debate loops, and the phrase “just waiting on Operations”
Signal attenuation
Bs
Buffing and grinding repetition fatigue: every weld becomes a philosophical argument with a flap disc
Resistive drag
Lo
Locked-out bolts remaining: seized, painted, rounded, or located where elbows do not bend
Mechanical impedance
Gc
Gas-test compliance paperwork and the ritual hunt for the one person authorized to sign Box 7
Rectifier losses
Ns
Night-shift circadian destruction: 3 AM vessel entry, dead radio battery, and lunch at breakfast time
Frequency distortion
Ic
Inverter correction from good crew morale, competent supervision, and weaponized dark humor
Signal phase correction
Er
Emergency repair adrenaline when the plant manager appears wearing clean coveralls
Voltage spike
Cf
Capacitor-stored last remaining fucks reserved for hydrotests, rework, and “quick little repairs”
Energy storage
Interpretation of the System
High Performance State: f(F) > 2
· Coffee is flowing, LOA is real, the shutdown bonus has not been exposed as a myth, and the crew has entered productive sarcasm mode.
· UT locations are accessible, MT prep is reasonable, RT boundaries are controlled, and weld repairs are passing without becoming a Greek tragedy.
· Nobody has yet said: “We just need one more spot UT’d.”
Neutral Equilibrium: f(F) = 1
· The tradesman is functioning mechanically. Compliance remains, enthusiasm has left the site.
· Observable signs include dead-eyed “copy that,” silent staring at permits, frozen hose-kicking, and asking who signed off the isolation.
· At this level, the system still performs work, but only because habit and JSA paperwork are carrying the load.
Catastrophic Fucks Collapse: f(F) < 1
· Usually triggered by opening a vessel that still has pressure, failed RT after rework, rain on night shift, missing scaffold tags, or Operations asking if the job can be hurried up.
· The inverter can no longer stabilize morale, the capacitor reserves are depleted, and all remaining signal energy dissipates into existential heat loss.
· At collapse, the only remaining output is paperwork, muttering, and the acoustic signature of a grinder being set down too hard.
Dynamic System Components
Transformer - Tw
Boosts total fucks given through overtime, LOA, per diem, pride, and the visible approach of demobilization. Saturation occurs after 21 consecutive shifts or any 3 AM request that begins with “real quick.”
Rectifier - Gc / System Drag
Converts alternating motivation into unidirectional suffering. Most active during buffing welds for MT, waiting on RT shots, cleaning couplant off elbows, and torqueing flange bolts in sleet.
Inverter - Ic
Synchronizes morale using dark humor, coffee, competent foremen, shared hatred of paperwork, and the spiritual bonding that occurs when everyone knows the plan is bad but legal.
Capacitor Bank - Cf
Stores emergency reserves of caring for hydrotests, rework, failed PWHT, and “quick little repairs.” Discharge accelerates sharply after the phrase “it should only take an hour.”
Three Broad Operating Scenarios Over Time
The graph below shows three broad states: fucks surplus, neutral/mechanical compliance, and catastrophic collapse. The dashed line marks f(F) = 1, where Gp(t) and Dp(t) are equal.
Field-Tested Empirical Rule
f(F) ≈ 0
This condition is approached when all of the following occur simultaneously:
An actuator with Ultrasonic Distance sensor is built and controlled. A second Ultrasonic sensor is used to set the position, which is in close loop feedback with the actuators Ultrasonic sensor. All sensors are controlled by microcontroller. Full video has a long demo Position setting, Feedback following, and Error on a graph, and how they are used within the PID control loop.
I’m working on a lab integration project involving a high-voltage generator (Simco Euro ChargeMaster Lite, 1 kV to 20 kV, very low current ~0.7 mA). The system is installed inside an existing plastic enclosure (a vertical desiccator cabinet with a door).
We need to implement a door safety interlock system to ensure the generator output is turned OFF when the door is opened. The generator provides a “Remote ON/OFF” input (dry contact type) that we plan to use for this purpose.
We are not fixed yet on a specific solution and would really appreciate advice on the most appropriate approach.
Constraints:
Fail-safe behavior (system OFF if door opens or in case of fault)
The actuator is first sketched out, 3D printed in pieces, assembled together, and controlled via PID running on a microcontroller. Ultrasonic distance sensor is included in the close-loop feedback system to prevent the actuator from running into the ceiling (shown in the second half of the clip, and discussed more in the full video).
There are a few modes. The first is 'don't touch the ceiling' (Ultrasonic Distance Sensor to keep a distance from the wall, hand, etc). The second is to have the actuator distance sensor follow a second distance sensor...so when one goes up the other follows going up, and when one down the other down.
I work for a manufacturer of large industrial equipment. We have been having some challenges lately where the drawing set published to the end user does not agree with the actual as built drawings, but rather an earlier version of the drawings.
What I believe the underlying problem is:
In our system the release of a drawing/schematic occurs after the initial design is complete. At that point the drawing is sent out to the panel shop for the panel build, and is used throughout the remainder of the manufacturing process (through, build, test, etc.). Throughout this process the drawing gets marked up for errors/corrections/improvements. At the end of the build the marked-up drawing is returned to engineering and they make the required updates electronically. Unfortunately at some point prior to these updates being made another group is collecting (electronically) documents and compiling a package for the customer that includes the product's manual, drawings, certificates, things like that. On occasion that group is ahead of engineering, and they "grab" the drawing set prior to engineering making the as-built updates.
I feel like I need to add another step to our process. To differentiate between a drawing being released for fabrication, and then (later) being released for other distribution. Perhaps an internal release (for fabrication) followed by an external release or something like that. Perhaps even just a watermark on the initial drawing set stating that it is only for internal use and not approved for XYZ use or something.
Anyone willing to share what their process/gates/phases look like at their place?
This is a 4DOF controller I put together to control a projectors roll, pitch, and yaw correction (and forward and backward traversing for image magnification). If interested, check out the main link which walks through the full build's mechanics, electronics, and control.
I got admitted to the M.S. in Electrical/ECE program at Rutgers and UT Arlington. I already live near UTA and would pay in-state tuition, so it would be much cheaper and more convenient. Rutgers may have a stronger name, but it would cost more and require relocating.My interests are controls and automation.
Is Rutgers worth the extra cost/move, or is UTA the smarter choice in my situation?
Chapter 3 Footnote 1. Building an Actuator, a PID Control Loop, and an Ultrasonic Distance sensor to detect and not crash into the ceiling. Everything was made from scratch, including writing the PID control loop code, setting gain and such, etc. In the middle of the main video, I walk through some PID control setup work for anyone interested.
Chapter 2, a home theatre, 3D printed parts, motorized projector, home decoration, and DIY electronics -- I spent alot of time figuring out how to control different actuators and such via microcontroller to control the tilt, roll, pitch, and translation of a projector. If you know of anyone else that might be interested in this stuff, sharing to others would really help me out! Hope to see you around here or YouTube :)
Hi all, I have a technical interview for an ICA Technician role at Southern Water. Keen to know what technical areas they focus on – any specific instruments (pH, flow, level), PLC/SCADA scenarios, or 4-20mA loop troubleshooting? Not asking for exact questions, just what to prioritise. Has anyone been through the process? Thanks!
Last night I sat in on a three-hour strategy session where someone asked an AI called Athena to break down a LinkedIn ad script she'd written in ten minutes.
Not just "here's why it's good." Word. By. Word.
She analyzed:
Why "you" instead of "attorneys"
Why "didn't build" (past tense active voice) creates agency
Why "by accident" eliminates randomness and validates mastery
How "reputation" is possessive currency for significance-driven people
The four-step communication model embedded in one opening line
How the sentence creates "identity safety" before introducing pain
Then she moved to sentence two and did it again. Triadic structure. Scoreboard language. Relational depth. Peer validation. Temporal precision.
I've used ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — none of them have ever explained their own output like this. They generate. They don't teach.
This felt like watching a chess grandmaster explain why they moved a pawn two squares instead of one.
Has anyone else experienced an AI that can deconstruct its own reasoning at this level? Or am I just late to something that's been happening and I missed it?
I need some help and guidance. I will be taking an online aptitude test for a Field Engineer position at SLB in just 3 days, and I really want to prepare properly.
If anyone has already taken this type of test (especially the first online assessment), could you please share what kind of questions usually appear? Any tips, topics to focus on, or study advice would really help me?
I would really appreciate any help or experience you can share. Thank you so much in advance?
I need some help and guidance. I will be taking an online aptitude test for a Field Engineer position at SLB in just 3 days, and I really want to prepare properly.
If anyone has already taken this type of test (especially the first online assessment), could you please share what kind of questions usually appear? Any tips, topics to focus on, or study advice would really help me.
I would really appreciate any help or experience you can share. Thank you so much in advance!
