Re: in-process meaning?
in-process meaning? please......
The term generally means at any point in the production cycle before a final inspection and placement in finished goods inventory.
Typically, when we talk about "in process inspection," we are talking about measuring or gaging a critical characteristic during the production process (critical to the final function of the product or critical to assuring the process is under control up to the point of inspection.)
Here's a simple example of in-process inspection measuring the dimension which is necessary to assure the process is under control.
Assume a part starts off as a bar of metal, gets turned to a diameter in a lathe, cut to length, then dropped in a jig where several cross holes are drilled at precise angles and distances from each other, then the holes are tapped to a specific thread, before being sent to an assembly point where this part (shaft) will be assembled with other parts to make a subassembly.
The diameter and length of the part (shaft) coming off the lathe may be critical to fitting in the jig for drilling, but only the angle of the threaded holes and the spacing between them is critical for the fit and function of the subassembly. The processor might measure the shafts after the lathe operation to assure the diameter and cutoff length are under control so the parts will fit precisely into the jig for the drilling. Obviously, if the shaft is too big or too small in diameter, it may not fit correctly into the jig for drilling and the rest of the process will be held up, so it is critical to the
process that the shafts be of a specified diameter and length, but not critical to the
function of the subassembly where only the angle and spacing of the tapped holes is critical (since the threading could conceivably overcome any tolerance buildup on the diameter as the mating part in the assembly engaged deeper or shallower into the thread.)
Many processors would measure, not merely gage, the diameter and length, then perform SPC charting of the in-process inspection to track how tight a control over tolerances the process had.
Sorry to tell you how to build a watch if all you wanted was the time.

