Quality is visually evaluated and controlled through supply chain lighting. |
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In a globalized economy, maintaining consistency is extremely important. |
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Brands that keep their promises often retain their customers. Even in emerging markets, customer expectations for consistent quality are rising faster than manufacturers can meet them. |
Greater consistency is an inevitable industry trend, which will drive brand owners to strengthen control over their supply chains when necessary. Many brand owners have shortened their supply chains, working with fewer, more trusted partners rather than relying solely on price-based partner selection. On the supplier side, if partners and suppliers offer advantages that promise more consistent quality control for brand owners, it helps demonstrate their value. When it comes to product color, especially in industries like apparel, automotive interiors, and other product categories where color is a critical element, consistent quality control has been particularly elusive. This issue has not been linked to the highly advanced science of light and color. Some standards and practices have been established based on new science and are supported by documented standards and practices. However, due to inaccurate or inconsistent color, brand owners and specifiers still reject up to 50% of textile suppliers' initial sample approval submissions. The challenges of visual color assessment are particularly tricky because these non-conforming samples are expensive. Light booths can provide a certain level of control, but the cool white fluorescent lamps in the brand-new SpectraLight III—a tool trusted by inspectors for generations—may differ from those in another light booth... or an older or different brand of lamp may be used in another SpectraLight III... or the same equipment may be inspected through the eyes of different operators. Light booths do not ultimately solve this complex problem; we need a holistic visual assessment system for instruments, information, and operators. |
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| X-Rite's Macbeth lighting product, SpectraLight QC, marks a new development in visual color assessment. | This holistic solution features advanced light sources and also includes a data-driven backend that carefully monitors lamp performance and condition, as well as a system for training and certifying operators. For brand owners and specifiers, SpectraLight QC is a revolutionary system for establishing standard operating procedures across the entire supply chain. For suppliers, SpectraLight QC is an investment that demonstrates your practices in visual color assessment. In fact, at any approval checkpoint throughout the supply chain (suppliers, vendors, purchasing offices, all the way to product design and the company's quality control), the standardized SpectraLight QC can reduce human error, standardize the conditions for visual assessment, and save time and money. |
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| Instrument | | The lighting technology used in SpectraLight QC is superior to any light booth on the market. Due to the instrument's large number of light sources—including daylight, incandescent "A," horizon daylight, three fluorescents (any combination among CWF, U30, U35, TL83, and TL84), and UVa—it exceeds the number available in any other product, making it applicable to any specification. The integrated light sensor provides real-time digital output of fluorescent illuminance and can be set by the operator to meet industry standards such as ASTM and AATCC. The instrument's closed-loop fluorescent control allows operators to move from one light source to the next without waiting for the required warm-up time. The same sensors and electronics ensure real-time control of all fluorescent lamps, maintaining precise illuminance throughout the lamp's lifespan. SpectraLight QC also offers factory-calibrated ultraviolet light, enabling users to adjust the amount of UV based on sample requirements (depending on the application). | | Information | | While lighting technology is the primary factor in visual assessment, achieving consistency across the supply chain also requires reliable information. To this end, SpectraLight QC generates and tracks data at every stage of the visual assessment through its PC-based reporting capabilities. Data—including company name, customer name, sample number, lamps used for evaluation, lamp condition (lamp age, remaining lamp life, illuminance level, calibration information), operator name and certification (Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test score)—can be printed and sent with physical samples or transmitted electronically. Essentially, SpectraLight QC serves as its own audit and tracking tool, facilitating the analysis of non-conforming samples to identify the root cause of issues. By enabling faster and easier troubleshooting, SpectraLight QC not only reduces the rate of sample rejection but also allows all parties to thoroughly investigate the supply chain and take corrective actions to eliminate potential future problems. Continuous improvement leads to perfection. | | Operator | | The operator using the instrument is as important as the technical solution to visual assessment issues. SpectraLight QC's user-programmable features allow suppliers to create custom profiles based on brand owners' preferences for light sources, illuminance levels, and other parameters, ensuring that operators use each program-approved lamp and accurate settings. The system can also generate reports with this information to share with clients, identifying any inconsistencies. Operator profiles can also be created, recording their Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test scores in these files. Experts estimate that up to 2% of women and 7% of men have color vision deficiencies. In the past, brand owners might have needed to send an operator twice a year to "calibrate" visual assessment tools across their entire global supply chain. With SpectraLight QC, information about clients' preferences for instrument settings and operator vision requirements can be shared via PC to improve accuracy and compliance. |
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| | Technical Specifications | | Top Light Illumination Device | Viewing Booth | | Dimensions | Height: 9.84 inches (250 mm) | Height: 27.55 inches (700 mm) | | Width: 37.00 inches (940 mm) | Width: 37 inches (940 mm) | | Depth: 25.98 inches (660 mm) | Depth: 24.01 inches (610 mm) | | Weight | 89.3 lbs (40.5 kg) | 22.0 lbs (10.0 kg) | | Shipping Weight | 116.8 lbs (53.0 kg) | 35.2 lbs (16.0 kg) | | Cabinet Color | | Munsell Notation N5 or N7 |
| | | Power Requirements | Power Supply | | L1NPE, 115V AC, 50/60Hz, 1150W | | L1NPE, 230V AC, 50/60Hz, 1150W | | L1NPE, 100V AC, 50/60Hz, 1150W | | Main Fuse | | 115V AC: F 10 A H 250 V (5x20 mm) | | 230V AC: F 6.3 A H 250 (5x20 mm) | | 100V AC: F 15 A H 250 V (5x20 mm) | | Power Cord | | Connector: Country-specific | | Plug: IEC 60320 C13 Type | | Standby Power | | 2W |
| | | Lamp Options | | | Simulated Daylight* | 5000K, CIE D50 Noon Sky Daylight | | 6500K, CIE D65 Average Northern Sky Daylight | | Fluorescent* | Three options: Cool White (4150K), U30 (3000K), U35 | | (3500K), TL84 (4000K) | | | | Horizon Daylight | Simulates sunrise/sunset | | Incandescent A | 2856K, typical household incandescent light | | Ultraviolet | Filtered near UV | | *Daylight and fluorescent light source selections. Specific daylight and fluorescent light sources should be selected according to industry or application management standards. | | Specifications subject to change without notice. |
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