Temperature profiling is the process of recording and interpreting temperatures of products and/or air through a conveyorized process (or during a batch process). The data is displayed as a graph/profile and as numeric data. In its simplest form this information tells you how hot your product became and for how long, and what temperatures it reached and at what point. Process Engineers know what the perfect profile for their product should be, variations from the ideal indicate a potential problem or unacceptable quality. By analyzing the profile you are able to verify products are of the highest quality, increase throughput, and solve production problems.
	Why should I profile my process? Your oven, furnace or kiln is the heart of your business. The quality and reliability of your finished product depends upon its performance. You know a lot about every other manufacturing step in your operation, but do you really know what’s going on inside your conveyorized oven or furnace? If production is going well, great! But can you make it better? Can you take immediate corrective action when it’s not going well? Do you have information to prevent problems? Wouldn’t you like to? Routine temperature profiling gives you reliable data to optimize your process, prove process control and make corrections when required. But today compliance and traceability are key issues. A product report proving compliance to manufacturing specifications may not yet be a requirement but it is likely to be a major selling point for your product. You don’t question why your doctor takes your pulse and blood pressure, do you? It’s the same thing for your production line, a product report proving compliance to manufacturing specifications is like getting a clean bill of health from your doctor. Routine profiling can help you: 1) Rapidly setup new processes 2) Identify problems before they affect quality 3) Find faults quickly 4) Increase productivity 5) Prove process control (QS/ISO9000) 6) Minimize fuel costs 7) Control product quality
	How easy is profiling? As easy as 1, 2, 3. To get accurate and reliable temperature profiles this is all you need to do...  1) Start the logging process with predefined settings simply by activating the logger, place the logger in the thermal barrier and attach the thermocouples to your product. 2) Run the Tracker System through your thermal process. 3) Safely retrieve the barrier from your process and download the collected data to your computer. View, analyze and report with Datapaq’s software. Each Datapaq system comprises three major components — the data logger, a highly efficient thermal barrier to protect the data logger, and powerful, easy-to-use software to rapidly analyze the data.
	What data will I get from temperature profiling? Our user-friendly software gives you two types of data: graphic and numeric. The graphical data can be overlaid with previous profiles or tolerance bands for immediate profile verification. Numerical data can easily be processed to produce industry specific measurements of process performance. A one page customizable standard report is available at a keystroke - perfect for QC/ISO9000 documentation or proving process control to customers. For a closer look, click on the software pages within each system category.
	How often should I profile? Some companies profile several times daily, others less often. Whatever your preferred schedule you’ll quickly discover that routine profiling pays for itself.
	Is profiling hard to do? Datapaq’s Tracker Systems are extremely easy to use and understand. Programmable software lets you predetermine exactly what software operations each line operator can access so there is never any confusion. A simple one-time user configuration session will tailor the screen and accessible software features to the precise tools the user needs. Password protection makes sure the data remains uncorrupted by unauthorized access or error.
	My process is really long and really hot. Can I profile it? We can’t profile every process - but we come close. Datapaq offers temperature profiling systems for five different areas: Oven Tracker for the finishing industry, Furnace Tracker for heat treating, Kiln Tracker for heavy clay and ceramics, Multi Tracker for food processors and Reflow Tracker for electronics manufacturers.  We profile processes from 10 seconds long to 10 days in duration. We have measured temperatures up to 1650oC (3000oF) and have thermal barriers in every size from 18 mm (0.7 in) to 1,041 mm (41 in) and 0.32 kg (0.7 lb.) to almost 455 kg (1,000 lb.). We have made more than 100 different thermal barriers and are adding to these regularly in order to serve our customers. We have several families of data loggers, all ruggedly built and highly accurate. With loggers accurate to 0.5oC and able to store over 100,000 readings, there is almost no process we can not measure.
	What are the benefits of profiling?
	Rapidly setup new processes
	Routine monitoring of your process gives you a database of profile information which will help you develop new processes accurately and efficiently. You’ll know exactly what temperature settings and line speed will give you the best quality product.
	Identify problems before they affect quality
	Statistical Process Control functions identify potential problems allowing you to schedule preventative maintenance at your convenience.
	Find faults quickly
	When problems occur because of improper heating, you’ll quickly spot the cause and location. Analyze the profile information to determine necessary corrective action, then run follow-up profiles to prove the changes were successful.
	Increase productivity
	Analysis of your profiles will show you how and where you can optimize operations. By rebalancing the time at temperature and heat ratios you may be able to increase line speed and product throughput. And by knowing exactly what is happening to your product in your process you’ll be able to minimize time spent on test runs and process setups -- allowing a greater number of profitable production runs.
	Prove process control (QS/ISO9000)
	Our single page standard report is only one way our Tracker Systems prove process control -- all the data files are fully traceable as well. Each includes operator name, product type and data logger serial number in addition to temperature information to prove that your process is being performed in a controlled and repeatable manner every day.
	Minimize fuel costs
	Rising fuel costs can significantly impact your operating budget. The simple fact is that lower costs mean higher profits. Every Tracker System gives you the information you need to make the best possible product with the highest efficiency, i.e. less heat equals less fuel. And less fuel consumption also has a positive environmental impact!
	Control product quality
	A growing scrap pile or increased customer returns means only one thing - something has gone wrong. If you know precisely what is happening to your products during production you can easily reduce rejects, reduce rework, reduce scrap and reduce returns. Prevention is not as exciting as solving a problem once it has occurred, but it’s a lot more profitable. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
	How Temperature Profiling Can Improve Your Process
	Advancements in temperature profiling are increasing the amount of available process information and analysis capabilities. How can these advancements benefit your process? Read this feature article by Steve G. Offley, Ph.D. at Process Heating.