Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Lärmkontrolle / Español: Control de ruido / Português: Controle de ruído / Français: Contrôle du bruit / Italiano: Controllo del rumore

Noise control in quality management refers to the strategies, techniques, and processes implemented to minimise or eliminate unwanted noise within industrial or production environments. This is essential for maintaining product quality, ensuring safety, improving employee working conditions, and complying with regulatory standards on environmental and occupational noise levels.

Description

In quality management, noise control plays a crucial role in both the production process and workplace environment. Uncontrolled noise can lead to a range of issues, including health hazards for employees, disruptions in production, and adverse effects on product quality, particularly in industries where precision is critical, such as electronics or pharmaceuticals.

Noise in this context refers not only to auditory disturbances but also to "noise” as an unwanted variation in measurements, signals, or processes, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of operations. However, in the traditional sense, noise control focuses on managing the physical sound levels within a facility.

Types of noise:

• Occupational noise: The sound levels experienced by workers during production, often from machinery or industrial processes.
• Environmental noise: Noise that escapes into the surrounding community from a production facility, which may need to be controlled to comply with local regulations.

Noise control measures can be divided into several approaches:

• Engineering controls: These involve modifying equipment or processes to reduce noise at the source, such as installing silencers or using vibration-dampening materials.
• Administrative controls: Strategies like rotating workers to limit their exposure to noisy environments or scheduling loud operations during non-critical times.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Providing workers with earplugs or earmuffs to protect them from harmful noise levels.
• Noise barriers: Installing soundproof walls or barriers to contain noise within a specific area or prevent its spread.
• Noise reduction through design: Involving noise considerations during the design of new equipment or facilities to prevent noise problems before they occur.

From a regulatory perspective, many countries have laws governing acceptable noise levels in workplaces and public environments. Standards such as ISO 11690 provide guidelines on how to design and implement effective noise control measures within a production environment.

Application Areas

• Manufacturing: Noise from heavy machinery, welding, and other industrial processes needs to be controlled to protect workers and ensure precision in production.
• Construction: Noise control measures prevent disruptions to nearby communities and reduce worker exposure to harmful sound levels.
• Automotive: Ensuring that assembly line noise does not affect the accuracy of work or testing environments for new vehicles.
• Electronics: Precision manufacturing of electronic components requires low-noise environments to ensure sensitive equipment is not disrupted.
• Healthcare: Noise control is essential in medical environments, particularly in labs and hospitals where precision is critical, and a quiet environment is necessary for patient care.

Well-Known Examples

• Automobile assembly lines: Manufacturers implement noise control measures to minimise machine noise that could interfere with sensitive tasks, such as precision welding or painting.
• Aerospace industry: Noise reduction is crucial during the testing of aircraft components where precision and low interference are necessary for accurate results.
• Soundproofing in factories: Many factories use soundproof barriers or materials to isolate noisy areas, ensuring that operations and personnel outside of those areas are not disturbed.

Treatment and Risks

Inadequate noise control in a quality management system can lead to several risks, including:

• Health risks for employees: Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to hearing loss or other health issues such as stress and fatigue.
• Decreased product quality: Excessive noise can disrupt precision manufacturing processes, causing defects or inaccuracies.
• Regulatory non-compliance: Many industries are subject to regulations on noise levels, and failing to meet these can result in fines or operational shutdowns.
• Lower employee productivity: Noise pollution in the workplace can decrease focus, increase stress, and reduce overall productivity.

To mitigate these risks, regular monitoring of noise levels, effective implementation of noise control strategies, and compliance with safety standards are essential.

Similar Terms

• Vibration control: A related concept where techniques are used to reduce the impact of vibrations, which often accompany noise in industrial environments.
• Environmental noise management: Focuses on controlling noise that affects the external environment, including nearby communities or natural areas.
• Occupational health and safety: A broader term encompassing noise control measures as part of efforts to ensure safe working conditions for employees.

Summary

In quality management, noise control is vital for protecting worker health, ensuring the accuracy of production processes, and maintaining compliance with environmental and occupational regulations. Effective noise control involves engineering, administrative, and protective measures designed to reduce noise at the source, contain it within specific areas, or protect employees from its harmful effects. By addressing noise effectively, companies can enhance product quality, improve employee well-being, and avoid regulatory penalties.

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