Leak Test Technology Development (LTTD) & Prove-Out

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) Leak Test Technology Development (LTTD) collaborative project identified and evaluated a number of advanced technologies at national laboratories and universities in an effort to find a viable solution for leak testing in today's manufacturing environment. Four technologies were selected for research and development. Three primary objectives drove the project: cycle-time reduction, sensitivity, and simultaneous leak location. Secondary objectives were: robustness, cost effectiveness, and ease of use. The metrics used by the industrial participants to evaluate these new technologies were: long-term facilities cost savings, headcount savings, quality, and overall efficiency of the leak test operation. This project was initiated in 1997. NCMS members included Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Vacuum Instrument Corporation, and Laser Imaging Systems. Also participating were Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, the University of Michigan, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Naval Aviation Depot at Jacksonville.