Four Generations of Quality: a spectroscopic trio

Abstract

Introduction In the last article,1 we concentrated on how the “screwdriver in the spectroscopist toolkit” the UV/ visible spectro(photo)meter, and its associated software has evolved during our Four Generations. In this article we’ll now look at three other related spectroscopic techniques/tools in the box, namely, Fluorescence, near infrared (NIR) and Raman; and discuss the “what”, “where” and “how” of these techniques are being used to improve the quality of the measurement processes associated with them. This article, therefore, uses the Four Generations in the previously described time periods and does uncover some interesting points for discussion. This chronology effectively plots the evolution of these techniques from Research to Analytical Quality Assurance (QA), and the associated Quality requirements associated with them. However, with due deference to the multitude of reference texts available, let’s quickly state that it is not the intention of this article to discuss the theory of the appropriate science, and if this is of interest to the reader, then any of the excellent, and well-known texts, some of which are referenced below, should be consulted.