9During on-site calibration, the per-formance test items stipulated by JIS are carried out to confirm the performance of the instrument—for example, wheth-er the volume of air taken in by the par-ticle counter is as specified; whether the count and size of the particles measured are accurate; and whether electrical noise exceeds specified levels. While these are normally simple tasks, the challenge lies in performing them on-site.“The most difficult part was the tools,” says Igarashi. “We can’t bring in all the tools we have in our backyard, so we have to determine what tools are needed for the particular on-site cali-bration. It took a lot of effort to deter -mine how to streamline our work with optimal selection of tools. For example, say we need to replace a laser, which is a consumable part, but is a key compo-nent of the particle detection instru-ment. The installation angle has to be precisely adjusted. If we had to start from the first step on-site, the work would take too long, and lasers are deli-cate devices, easily damaged by the slightest static electrical discharge. To address this problem, we assembled a unit with a pre-adjusted laser and replaced the whole unit at the site. The idea was to ensure smooth operation without affecting quality.”An expert on on-site calibration, Igarashi has long been in charge of in-house maintenance of particle count-ers, accumulating a vast amount of knowledge and know-how during this time. “Igarashi isn’t just knowledge-able,” says Karaki, his colleague, “he’s also flexible with his ideas. When there’s a problem, he’s capable of proceeding logically to identify the correct sequence for investigating the problem. I think that’s why he’s so good at handling problems on-site. He’s also extremely fast and efficient at his work.”On-site calibration, which must be completed within the time specified, resembles an F1 pit stop. It’s a race against time. For this reason, Igarashi is very particular about even how the tools are packed.“Things come up that you can’t pre-dict,” says Igarashi. “Sometimes, since we’re already there, a customer may ask us to do something else. One of the skills a field engineer has to have is the capacity to think outside the box, to do what he or she can on the spot.”Additionally, the special environ-ments in which particle counters are installed present hurdles to their work. Entering certain sites requires appro-priate gear and clothing. In addition to wearing a clean suit to keep dust and dirt on the body from contaminating the environment, workers have to wear helmets and safety belts. Protective clothing is required before entering a culture room. In many cases, electronic devices like smartphones are strictly prohibited for reasons involving confidentiality. That means field engi-neers may have difficulty commu n i cating with staff members who are located far away. Even so, there’s a certain exhilara-tion about being on-site.“I can see my customer’s reaction to my work, which motivates me to do bet-ter. That’s the part of the job you can’t experience unless you are on-site.” (Iga-rashi)“I experience a sense of accomplish-ment because I find myself involved in the entire process, from the quotation to the aftersales follow-up. It’s deeply rewarding to see customers who had encountered problems end up looking like the very picture of satisfaction.” (Karaki)Every day, field engineers load their gear into their cars and head out to sites around Japan. The steady efforts of the field engineers who maintain Rion’s particle counters and their quality are key behind-the-scenes factors of cut-ting-edge fields that draw global atten-tion, from semiconductors to regenera-tive medicine.Ryo IgarashiParticle Counter Team, Customer Support Group, Engineering Business Unit, Rion Service Center Co., Ltd.After joining the company in 2013, Ryo Igarashi worked as an inhouse maintenance engineer for particle counters sent from customers before being assigned to the current team in 2017. His expertise has contributed to onsite calibration.Kazunari KarakiParticle Counter Team, Customer Support Group, Engineering Business Unit, Rion Service Center Co., Ltd.Since joining Rion in 2011, he has dedicated himself to technical support. Currently, he primarily oversees multipoint measurement systems, and is involved in around 50 new installations per year. He also responds to cases involving malfunctions.BackyardA base for field engineers in which equipment and supplies used for onsite calibration and other tasks are stored. The tools required vary depending on the site. Field engineers make a compact set of selected tools and load them onto a vehicle.Tools to be carried in a caseSmall tools are organized accord ing to purpose and frequency of use. Keeping them organized and in their proper places speeds up calibration work.The key to success is to make things work given the limited time and tools available
元のページ ../index.html#11