The importance of quality control in any manufacturing process has always been recognised. However, now more than ever before, it is a key requirement in order for manufacturing companies to remain competitive in the digital age. Because of the complexities and globalization of the manufacturing supply chain, real-time product quality analysis has become an important issue in the global manufacturing industry. However, in the metal forging industry, the attainment of efficient real-time quality control within forging processes has been faced with many technological challenges. These challenges are associated with the need for more sophisticated process modelling and simulation tools, cost-effective self-tuning sensors and a lack of robust and efficient in-process monitoring and quality control technologies for the forging industry
