"The Strategic Role of Quantum Generation Equipment

in 21st Century QA Laboratories"

Speaker / Author: Pieter D Rossouw

Elabtec
PO Box 3754, North end Port Elizabeth, 6056
e-mail: pieter@elabtec.co.za
Web: http://www.elabtec.co.za
Phone: 041 373 3303 Fax: 086 603 3357

Abstract

During the Late 19th Century and early 20th Century Scientific Researchers like Einstein,
Planck, Smekal, Raman, Schroedinger and others, published a portfolio of ground breaking
fundamental theories. Fundamental research during the latter half of the 20th century was
largely aimed at getting a better understanding of the implications of these theories. Another
major driving force occurred during 2001 as a result of the White Powder Anthrax
Attacks and 9/11 in New York. As a result of these occurrences the US Government went on
an Applied Science development spending spree, motivating Applied Scientific Research.
When this spending spree met up with the Creative Scientific Entrepreneurs who had already
been researching the application of these theories to modern analytical science during the late
20th century. We saw an explosion in the practical application of these scientific concepts
into the development of lower cost multifunctional equipment that will drive future research,
manufacturing and product developments.

The last few years saw the release of a whole generation of quantum, photon and relativity
based equipment at economically viable prices for Research, measuring, analysis and
production use. I like to call them the Quantum Generation. This generation of devices are set
to revolutionise a variety of Academic Research, R&D, QA and production process fields.
Additionally, this generation has a variety of common characteristics that promises to make
their impact on research and business rather significant. These common characteristics are the
following: Multifunctional, Safe to use, Easy to use, once SOP developed, Reasonably
priced, Extremely fast, Accurate and repeatable measurements, virtually free of operator bias,
Reduced, to zero sample preparation prior to measurement, Live process monitoring possible
in many cases, Virtually zero operating cost, Robust.

1 Introduction Management Summary:

The Quantum Generation Equipment (QGE) are set to spur a revolution in business
especially R&D, manufacturing, mining and retailing.
In manufacturing the GCE units will:
1.Speed up and reduce the cost of Raw Material Quality Assessments.
2.Reduce time and scrap wastage through more stable input standards.
3.Optimise production processes.
4.Reduce the Environmental impact of Production.
5.Enable Faster Cheaper more detailed finished goods QA assessments.
In Mining the GCE units will:
1.Speed up Geological Assessments.

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2.Provide Greater Accuracy of Geo assesments
In R&D they will:
1.Speed up opposition product Reverse Engineering
2.Speed up and reduce the cost of Identifying the Critical Control Parameters of new product
development.
3.Speed up and reduce the cost of QA Standard Operating Procedure Development.
In Retailing value added foods they will:
1.Enable Rapid on site formulation consistency verification.

These impacts will generally reduce costs through optimization and shorten the Unique
Technical Competence phase of new product life cycles. Failure to utilise these technologies
to the fullest will therefore impact severely on the Competitive Advantage positioning of
organisations.

2 Background:
Over the last few decades the important issues driving successful Business Strategy in South
Africa have evolved extensively. During the '50's & '60's management of Manufacturing
organisations were largely focussed on the problems associated with; How to manufacture
sufficient volumes to satisfy demand and therefore Engineers ruled the corporate world.
During the '70's & '80's managers of these organisations tended to focus on market share
growth and the key question became; How to create sufficient demand to sell all we can
make, and What does the Consumer need in sufficient volume so that we can make it
profitably, leading to the ascension of the Marketing men to prominence. During the late '80's
to the present the pursuit of Competitive Advantage in a fast globalizing world, drove
organisations to pursue greater Productivity of Capital, resulting in a drive to reduce costs
and capital utilisation levels. Accountants and Financial experts became the business leaders.
This evolution was driven by the changing relative importance of the various fundamental
business and economic drivers. The final impact on business strategy of the QGE during the
21st century is difficult to project at this stage.

The 20th century also saw another trend, largely ignored by the business community. During
the Late 19th Century and early 20th Century, Scientific Researchers like Einstein, Planck,
Smekal, Raman, Schroedinger and others, published a portfolio of ground breaking
fundamental Science Theories. Superficially viewed it looks like the World's Scientists spent
the first three quarters of this century trying to prove or disprove these theories. It was only
after the conclusive proof rendered by the explosion of the Atom bomb on Hiroshima during
1945 and the creation of Nuclear power plants based on these theories during the '50's to '70's
that fairly general acceptance of validity of these theories took place. The third quarter of the
20th century was spent on gaining greater understanding of these theories. Another major
driving force occurred during 2001 as a result of 9/11 and the White Powder Anthrax
Attacks in the USA. As a result of these occurrences the US Government went on an
Applied Science development spending spree, motivating Applied Scientific Research aimed
at improving Inland security. When this spending spree met up with the Creative Scientific
Entrepreneurs who had already been researching the application of these theories to modern
analytical science since the late 20th century, we saw an explosion in the practical
application of these scientific concepts into the development of equipment that will drive
future research, manufacturing and product developments.

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3 Common Characteristics of the Quantum Gneneration
The last few years saw the release of a whole generation of quantum, photon and relativity
based equipment at economically viable prices, for measuring, analysis and production
control use. I call them the Quantum Generation. This generation of devices are set to
revolutionise a variety of R&D, QA and production process control fields. Additionally, this
generation has a number of common characteristics that promise to make their impact on
business rather significant. These common characteristics are the following:
1.Multifunctional Every instrument has a multiplicity of applications.
2.Safe to use No dangerous reagents, heat or reaction products involved.
3.Easy to use once the SOP has been developed. Aim & click in most cases
4.Reasonably priced. Prices of equipment of similar capability dropped by 95% in some cases
through the utilisation of greater computing capability, modern manufacturing developments
over the last 5 years and volume markets created by the US Inland Security needs.
5.Extremely fast One process that traditionally consumed about 200 skilled man hours was
reduced to 2.5 semi skilled man hours.
6.Accurate and repeatable measurements, virtually free of operator bias.
7.Minimal to zero sample preparation prior to measurement.
8.Live process monitoring possible in some cases.
9.Virtually zero operating cost. The common consumable is electricity at minimal volumes.
In most cases less than 10A
10.Robust. Can also work in extremely adverse environments. Minimal specialised housing
cost.

4 The Implications
The Strategic Implications of this Quantum Generation of equipment to industry is that they,
will become a significant new evolutionary driving force of possibly revolutionary
proportions. These technologies promise to:
1.Shorten new product creation to launch cycles,
2.Speed up reverse engineering (copying) of competitive new products.
3.Reduce production costs through raw material and process optimization leading to
productivity increases.
In other words they promise to significantly influence the life spans of the three fundamental
Competitive Advantages postulated by Porter

Manufactured and farm produced product quality verification is also likely to improve
substantially through greater speed, accuracy and lower operating costs. I believe that the
practical utilisation of the Quantum Generation Equipment will generate competitive
advantage for Manufacturing businesses on such a scale that this may indeed become the
economic driver that will unseat the Accountants and drive Scientists into the CEO chairs.

QGE's can also be used to assist with the exploitation of totally new sources of primary
products such as Gas Hydrates that can now be properly researched and quantified. Natural
Gas Hydrates are likely to fuel transport for the next few hundred years, based on present
assessments of their potential, traditional analytical techniques could not analyse these
hydrates properly as it was not possible to retrieve and deliver unaltered samples from where
they occur naturally to laboratories for analysis. Gas Hydrates are rocks of crystalline
Methane/Water and occur under the sea and decompose to methane and liquid water when
pressure drops and temperature increases. Some Quantum Generation analysers can be taken
deep below the sea to analyse the Gas Hydrates where they occur naturally. NASA is also

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developing miniaturized versions for space and planetary exploration. Both decidedly adverse
environments.

These technologies are even likely to change drug testing in sport. It will soon become
possible to analyse a couple of drops of an athlete's urine before or after the game, in the
presence of the athlete with portable equipment costing about R300 000 and provide a drug
analysis to femtogram /l ( 1.0 x 10 -15g/l) proportions within minutes rather than weeks with
centralised equipment costing millions to nanogram/l (1.0 x 10 -9 g/l) proportions and also
requiring extensive sample transport.

It sounds too good to be true, but, is this not the case with all truly new concepts.

Proposition
Managers who can inform themselves sufficiently to enable them to exploit the business
opportunities that these new technologies can create, are likely to be the Industrial leaders of
tomorrow. Fortunately, management exploitation of these technologies do not require senior
managers to have a full understanding of the underlying theories such as Relativity,
Quantum Mechanics etc. Managers who wish to exploit these technologies only need to have
a suitable broad brush overview and the support of adequately trained and educated people.
When I did my MBA in '70, we were among others, taught the Fortran 111 computer
programming language as it was believed at the time that management exploitation of
computers would require at least a substantial familiarity with computer programming. Today
many users of computers have no idea how programming works or even what it does, yet, use
computers very effectively in the management and growth of their businesses. For the most
part these technologies have, like modern computer software & systems, been fully
developed to user friendly levels. The addendum enclosed lists a few of the main industries
directly affected.

I have also developed a 2 hour layman's language broad brush overview of the fundamentals
and the management implications of the utilisation of these technologies in the modern
production and QA process. If you would like to expose your Senior managers to this
presentation please contact me.

5 Practical Application of QGE's

1. Raman Spectroscopy
This technology is available in a variety of formats from Microscope Mounted,
Portable and Benchtop units to Heavy Duty Industrial Process Control units. All of
them use a single wavelength laser to energise the covalent bonds in the sample
molecules. This results in the Inelastic Scattering of the light energy. In other words
the resulting inelastically scattered light displays a variety of frequencies and
intensities. A given covalent bond will always display the same basic frequency
pattern and concentration variations result in differing intensities. By analysing the
spectrum of this scattered light a wide variety of analyses can be done. For Example,
This 785nm Portable DeltaNu InspectoR has already:
1. Identified witch of these three bottles of Vodka is As Delivered, Contaminated
with Methanol, Contaminated with Water
2. Identified Diamonds, Cubic Zirconia and Moisonite

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 3. Corrected the Identification of a few gem stones at a meeting of the PE branch of
the SA Gemology Society.
4. Assisted the Anglo Lab with certain Mineral identifications.
5. Differentiated between Hemp and Dagga plants.
6. Analysed the Font Solutions of a Printer' four presses and determined that the one
solution had enough Iso Propanol, another had too little Iso Propanol and that the
font solutions of the other two presses contained almost no Iso Propanol but a
Cheap Junk mix sold to a gullible buyer with not Chemical Knowledge.
7. Demonstrated that the thin wax layer covering Mangos and Oranges show similar
chemical deterioration over fungal infection compared to over healthy skin
sections.
8. Identified that a PE Township Mutiman's muti that promises to help school kids
cope with stress, yet causes aggression, contained LSD and Tik. Two months later
the SAPS forensics lab still does not have a report.
9. Can Distinguish between Olive Oil, Sunflower oil and Canola oil.
10. And many more.

All of these analyses took only minutes to perform and required NO consumables. Take a
moment and consider how you would do similar analyses given the equipment in your
laboratory.

2. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

FTIR uses a broad spectrum of Infra Red light to illuminate the sample. Atoms and
bonds absorb certain Frequencies at rates proportional to concentration. By analysing
the resultant spectra one can determine the composition of the sample. FTIR
equipment come in a variety of formats from micro to macro Laboratory to Portable
and the latest format of FTIR namely ATR has broadened the scope of application of
this technology. Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) is a sampling technique used in
conjunction with infrared spectroscopy which enables samples to be examined
directly in the solid or liquid state without further preparation. Traditional Macro
FTIR suffered from a disability in that Water dissolved samples had to be subjected to
extensive sample preparation in order to remove the water or to limit it's distortive
effects as water is a very good absorber of heat or IR radiation.

Modern reflective FTIR can perform a variety of tasks from Micro to Macro, from
Liquids to Solids to Gasses, in some cases with ATR and in others without. Other
than the normal Organic Chemical analyses there are specialist units available that:
1. Are capable of measuring the Water Content of organics, oils and paints to Karl
Fisher Titration accuracy levels within seconds.
2. Can measure Anodization Chemistry and thickness.
3. Determine composite material degradation.
4. Determine Lubricant Deterioration with age and use
5. Analyze Paint and Primer chemistry
6. Track Chemical Reactions from Start through to completion.

Again all of these analyses take only a few seconds

3. Ion Mobility Spectroscopy

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 IMS is the technology used at US airports to determine if a passenger had been
involved with Drugs or Explosives within the last few days before travelling. This
Technology is also proving very useful in Cleanliness Verification in Pharmaceutical
manufacturing. In this technology the sample is vaporised and pumped into a chamber
where it is ionised by Ni63 radiation. The Ionised Vapour is then collected on a
charged grid and using electo-magnetism shot at a target through filtered, temperature
controlled air flowing in the opposite direction and the time of flight measured. This
separates the molecules based on their size and propensity of ionisation. In short the
same basic job as HPLC but far faster, microseconds rather than many minutes and
NO consumable consumption. 200 machine hours of HPLC analysis reduced to 7.5
hours.

4. Wide Spectrum Micro Spectroscopy

Uses broad band illumination, both visible and UV, and measures the absorptive or
reflective spectra of the samples.
Can be used in:
1. Trace Evidence Analysis (Paint, Fibres)
2. Flat Panel Displays Manufacturing QA
3. Semiconductor Film Thickness (Chip manuf.)
4. Surface Plasmon Resonance (DNA Probe)
5. Process Impurity Detection
6. Diamond & Gemstone Fingerprinting
7. Questioned Documents Analysis
8. Photonic Crystal Research and Manufacturing (Light manipulative structures)
9. Protein Crystal Analysis
10. Structural biology & drug design,
11. bioseperations, and controlled drug delivery.
12. DNA Analysis ( Micro samples )
13. Forensic Drug Chemistry
14. Combinatorial Chemistry drug development
15. MEMS - Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
16. Coal Energy yield Assement

5. Digital Imaging / Image Analysis

Many QA assessments are done by eye, in some cases with assisting equipment such as;
Colour Matching Cabinets in the industries relying on colour and Metallurgical Charts in
metallurgy, Colony Counters in Microbiology. DI and IA can in most cases automate and
eliminate operator bias and error to produce more consistent, repeatable results. Consider this
picture (Einstein / Marilyn)

A DI/IA system comprises;

1. Illumination and Lensing,
These components make the subject to be captured by the Camera visible in such a format
that the camera can consistently generate a Scientific Image. A Scientific Image is not a
beautiful picture it is a picture that illustrates the real facts. Some Key Stupidities we have
encountered; What is the sense of wishing to analyse particles down to 5 micron and buying
lensing that cannot resolve better than 20 micron?
2. Camera,
Cameras come in many formats from Happy Snappy Picture Takers at about R2k to
specialised units costing up to R500k. Some key stupidities we have encountered: What is the

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sense in buying a UV capable camera and then mounting lenses incapable of transmitting
UV? What is the sense of buying an expensive 12M pixel camera when the light physics
limitations of the lensing only requires 0.6M pixels to capture maximum resolution?
3. Computer and Basic Software,
When in doubt Google image analysis software looking around the web sites of the top few
will give you a fair idea of the relative strengths of the products.
4. Software Automation.

I shall not be discussing the last three categories in detail as they are not of general interest to
a wide variety of laboratories.
6. Scanning X Ray Tomography
7. X Ray Fluorescence
8. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

6 Conclusion.

This paper set out to broadly review the Scientific Manufacturing and Business Histories
leading up to the 21st century, and the fundamental evolutionary driving forces that played a
role in the development of the group of analysis equipment it describes as the Quantum
Generation. It also tried to project the impact that this group of analysis equipment is likely
to have on the strategic environment of manufacturing industries that apply science in the
production of goods. Finally it looked at the practical utilisation of a few of the QG analysis
technologies.

Due to the common characteristics of the QG equipment, summarised under point (3 above ).
It can be concluded that the members of the QG can make a substantial contribution to
changes in competitive advantage patterns in manufacturing industry, at some capital and
minimal continuing operational cost. These changes are likely to benefit manufacturing
innovators who adopt their use and erode experience based barriers to entry enjoyed by more
traditional competitors.

R&D and QA analysis laboratories are likely to face upheaval as many traditional analyses
are replaced by new analyses at lower cost, greater accuracy and requiring lower operator
skill levels and fewer operators, once SPO's have been developed. Senior R&D and QA
scientific staff will require totally different skills and knowledge portfolios to enable them to
ensure that their organisations remain competitive. Conversely, aggressive utilisation of the
positive potential of the QG equipment can significantly reduce raw material cost and
improve process management, thereby improving plant productivity thus profitability.

In short ladies and gentlemen, learning how to use these QG products to improve your
organisation's profitability can become YOUR escalator to the seat of POWER. Alvin
Toffler theorised that power is derived from three fundamental sources: Violence, Money, or
Knowledge.

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 Addendum
These Technologies find application in the following industries and areas of
endeavour:
1. Mining:
1. Geology ( Coal, Ore and Precious Minerals)
2. Assaying
3. Refining ( Process Management)
2. Metal Processing
1. Metals Production
1. Ore Assessment
2. Metal Refining ( Process Management)
3. QA Assessment
2. Metals Utilisation
1. Metallurgy
2. Weld Penetration
3. Cutting / Cooling fluid management
3. Medicine
1. Oncology Diagnostics, Prescription verification, Surgery
2. Blood Chemistry
3. Pathology
4. Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals
1. Drug Development.
2. Raw Material verification
3. Process Management
4. Post Manufacture QA Tests
5. Cleanliness Verification.
5. Food
1. Growing / Primary Production
1. Input Raw material Assessment
2. Crop analysis.
2. Value Adding
1. Raw Material Assessment
2. Process Management
3. QA
1. Purity Analysis
2. Formulation verification
3. Bacteriology
4. Product development.
3. Retailing of Value added Foods
1. Type & Purity Analysis
2. Formulation verification
3. Bacteriology
6. Plastics
1. Polymerisers
1. Raw Materials Assessment
2. Process Monitoring
3. Final Product Purity Assessment
2. Converters
1. Raw Materials Assessment
2. Defect Analysis

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7. Paint
1. Manufacturing
1. Raw Material Assessment
2. Formulation verification
3. Defect analysis
2. Applicators
1. Raw Material Assessment
2. Formulation verification
3. Process Management
4. Defect analysis
8. Petroleum
1. Geology ( Coal, Oil & Gas)
2. Assaying / Analysis
3. Refining ( Process Management)
4. Output Quality Assessment
9. Municipalities
1. Water Supply
1. Raw Water Assessment including Trace contaminant analysis
2. Process Monitoring
3. Final Product Purity Assessment
2. Effluent Water Treatment
1. Effluent Pre-Treatment Assessment
2. Process Management
3. Air Pollution
1. Monitoring
2. Source Identification
10. Tertiary Education
1. Physics
2. Chemistry
3. Botany
4. Agriculture
5. Zoology
6. Geology
7. Art,
8. Environmental Studies
9. Scientific assessment of Historical artefacts etc.
11. Police Forensics
12. Electronic Manufacture.
13. Nanotechnology

All of the above on any scale Macro, Micro or Nano-.

2008 Test and Measurement Conference