Linshang LS173 Colorimeter for Automotive Parts Color Quality Control Malaysia
Linshang LS173 Colorimeter for Automotive Parts Color Quality Control Malaysia
Color consistency can be an important quality requirement for automotive components, especially when plastic, painted or coated parts are installed next to one another.
Two components may individually appear acceptable, but once assembled into the same vehicle or interior system, a small shade difference can become much more noticeable.
The Linshang LS173 Portable Colorimeter provides automotive component manufacturers and suppliers with an objective method for measuring product color and evaluating color differences against an approved reference.
For automotive supply-chain companies in Malaysia, portable color measurement can support incoming inspection, production quality control, supplier comparison and finished component inspection.
Why Is Color Consistency Important for Automotive Parts?
Automotive products contain many visible components produced from different materials and by different suppliers.
Examples may include:
Plastic interior components
Molded housings
Painted metal parts
Coated components
Dashboard-related parts
Trim components
Plastic covers
Switch housings
Decorative components
Other suitable colored surfaces
When these components are assembled together, color variation can become noticeable.
This is particularly challenging when neighboring parts come from different production processes or suppliers.
The Problem of Adjacent Component Color Difference
Imagine two grey plastic components.
When inspected separately, both look acceptable.
After assembly:
Component A + Component B → Visible Shade Difference
The customer may immediately notice that one appears darker or lighter.
This demonstrates why visual inspection of individual components may not always be enough.
Objective color measurement can provide additional information before the parts reach final assembly.
Why Can Automotive Component Colors Vary?
Possible causes include:
Resin batch variation
Pigment differences
Masterbatch variation
Raw material suppliers
Injection molding conditions
Processing temperature
Paint formulation
Coating process
Substrate differences
Different component suppliers
Production batch variation
Even when the nominal color requirement remains unchanged, manufacturing variation can affect the final appearance.
Establish an Approved Master Sample
A consistent color QC process should begin with an approved reference.
Depending on the application, this may be:
Customer-approved sample
Golden sample
Master plastic component
Approved painted component
Standard color panel
Approved production part
Production and supplier samples can then be compared against the same reference.
This is generally more reliable than comparing one production batch only against the previous batch.
Using the LS173 for Color Difference Measurement
A typical inspection process may be:
Approved Master → Measure
↓
Automotive Component → Measure
↓
Compare Color Difference
↓
Evaluate Against Established Criteria
↓
Accept / Hold / Investigate
This provides QC personnel with measurable data to support their inspection decision.
Delta E for Automotive Component Comparison
Delta E (ΔE) is commonly used to represent the measured difference between two colors.
Generally:
Lower ΔE = smaller measured color difference
Higher ΔE = greater measured color difference
This can help automotive suppliers quantify how closely a production component matches an approved reference.
The acceptable tolerance should be based on the customer's specification, material, application and established quality requirements.
A universal Delta E acceptance limit should not automatically be applied to every automotive component.
Plastic Injection-Molded Automotive Parts
Plastic injection molding is one application where color variation can become an important issue.
Changes in masterbatch, resin, processing conditions or production parameters may affect finished color.
The LS173 can support suitable plastic component inspection during:
First-off approval
Production QC
Batch inspection
Supplier inspection
Final QC
Periodic measurement can also help identify color drift before a large production quantity is completed.
Painted Automotive Components
Painted and coated automotive parts may also require consistent appearance.
Color measurement can help compare suitable coated surfaces against an approved standard.
However, color is only one part of surface appearance.
Depending on the specification, manufacturers may also need to evaluate:
Gloss
Coating thickness
Surface finish
Visual defects
A colorimeter, gloss meter and coating thickness gauge therefore perform different measurement functions.
Incoming Quality Control for Automotive Suppliers
Tier suppliers may purchase colored components from several subcontractors.
The LS173 can support Incoming Quality Control (IQC) by comparing suitable incoming components against the approved master before they are released to production.
A workflow can be:
Receive Parts → Sampling → Visual Inspection → Color Measurement → Compare → Release / Hold
Early detection can prevent incorrect-color components from entering assembly.
In-Process Quality Control
Color measurement can also be performed during production.
For example:
First-Off Sample → Measure
Mid-Production Sample → Measure
Final Production Sample → Measure
If color variation begins increasing, the production team can investigate before completing the entire batch.
This can help reduce the potential cost of rework and rejection.
Outgoing Quality Control
Before automotive components are delivered to the next stage of the supply chain, finished samples can be checked again.
For companies supplying parts under defined appearance requirements, objective measurement provides an additional layer of final QC.
This may be particularly valuable when different production batches will eventually be assembled together.
Supplier A vs Supplier B
Automotive supply chains often involve multiple suppliers.
Suppose the same type of component is sourced from two factories.
Instead of comparing Supplier A directly with Supplier B, both can be compared against the approved master:
Approved Master → Supplier A
Approved Master → Supplier B
This provides a common reference and can improve supplier quality discussions.
D/8 Measurement Geometry
The Linshang LS173 uses D/8 optical geometry, referring to diffuse illumination with an 8-degree viewing geometry.
Controlled optical measurement provides a more standardized approach to color evaluation than uncontrolled visual inspection alone.
This can help improve repeatability between QC operators and production batches.
Visual Inspection Is Still Important
Instrumental color measurement should not automatically replace visual inspection.
Automotive components may have appearance characteristics that require visual evaluation, including:
Surface texture
Molding defects
Uneven finishing
Scratches
Coating defects
Overall appearance
A practical QC process can therefore combine:
Visual Inspection + Instrumental Color Measurement
The human eye evaluates the overall product, while the colorimeter provides objective color data.
Portable Color Measurement for the Automotive Supply Chain
A portable colorimeter can be useful in different locations, including:
Incoming inspection
Production lines
QC rooms
Supplier facilities
Warehouses
Finished goods inspection
This flexibility can be valuable for supplier quality engineers and QC teams that need to inspect components at different stages.
Reducing Color-Related Customer Complaints
Color-related complaints can be expensive when components have already been shipped, assembled or installed.
Possible consequences include:
Sorting
Rework
Repainting
Replacement
Production delays
Additional transport
Customer complaints
Where color is an important specification, earlier objective measurement can help reduce uncertainty before shipment.
Building an Automotive Component Color QC Procedure
A documented procedure may include:
Approved master sample
Measurement location
Sample orientation
Number of measurements
Inspection frequency
Required color parameters
Acceptance tolerance
Measurement records
Retained samples
Non-conformance action
A repeatable procedure is essential when measurement results need to be compared across different operators, suppliers and production periods.
Who Can Use the Linshang LS173?
The LS173 may be considered by:
Automotive component manufacturers
Plastic injection molding companies
Painted component suppliers
Tier 1 suppliers
Tier 2 suppliers
QA departments
QC departments
Supplier quality engineers
Production engineers
Incoming inspection teams
It is particularly relevant when suitable colored components need to be compared consistently against an approved reference.
Linshang LS173 for Automotive Parts Malaysia
MTM Precision supplies industrial testing and measurement instruments for manufacturing, engineering and quality control applications throughout Malaysia.
If your company requires a portable colorimeter for automotive plastic parts, painted components, Delta E measurement, supplier quality control or production color inspection, contact MTM Precision to discuss your application.
Contact MTM Precision
MTM Precision Sdn. Bhd.
Showroom & Service Centre
No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
🌐 Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
📧 Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
📱 WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Looking for a Linshang LS173 Portable Colorimeter for automotive parts color quality control in Malaysia? Contact MTM Precision for quotation, product information and application enquiries.
12 Aug 2026
