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Layout of Diamond Grading Lab using ImaGem's equipment and technology
A layout of a diamond grading lab using ImaGem's equipment and technology is shown below. Use of space and personnel is optimized to reduce operational cost. Efficient flow of diamonds and information from one work station to another is essential to achieve a high quality certificate yet significantly reduce production cost.
Layout of Diamond Grading Lab using ImaGem's equipment and technology
Diamonds are received at the In-Bound Station. They are cleaned,
weighed and tested. A unique identity is assigned to each order and each
diamond. Then, an order is entered in to Gem Lab Information system
(GLIS) - a management information system developed by ImaGem to manage
orders, processing of diamonds, review, printing of certificates and
invoices, and orders out of the door.
Next, an order is passed to the Grading Station where GL 3100
processes a diamond for Gauging, Color, Fluorescence, Symmetry, DFS Cut
Grade, Light Behavior and Registers a diamond. Direct Measurement
technology developed by ImaGem is used to measure these attributes with
objectivity and the highest level of accuracy, precision and
repeatability. GL 3100 does all the work in about three minutes and
thirty seconds. A single operator (doesn't have to be a gemologist) can
operate up to three GL 3100 machines. Scheduled calibration and internal
checks are built in to the system to assure accuracy of processed data,
otherwise a flag will appear next to data with a problem. Data and
images generated by GL 3100 are automatically stored by the GLIS -
eliminating errors associated with human handling of data.
Clarity analysis is done next (Clarity Station) using Clarity
machine GL 5100. A diamond is placed in a crucible immersed in a
proprietary solution (non-toxic and doesn't affect a diamond in any way)
and placed in an imaging station. Very high resolution magnified images
are captured. Immersion significantly improves image quality to a point
that inclusions in a stone can be automatically mapped and measured.
This is a patented process. A gemologist operates the clarity machine
and edits the clarity plot as necessary. A clarity grade is assigned by
the machine and verified by a gemologist. This process can take anywhere
between 60 seconds to 3 minutes depending on clarity. Once again images
and data are automatically recorded in the GLIS.
Before a certificate is ready to be printed, a gemologist reviews the
data and examines a stone (Gemologist Station). If there is a
problem a stone is rerun otherwise a gemologist approves the printing of
the certificate. For most diamonds this takes about 2 minutes. Name of
the gemologist and any comments are automatically recorded in the GLIS.
At the Out-Bound station, a certificate and an invoice are
printed and the order is assembled for shipment. System is intelligent
enough to know which certificate is to be printed. Customized
certificate formats can be handled by the system. Shipment data are
automatically recorded.
The system shown here with one machine of each type has a monthly production capacity of 2400 diamonds. It is assumed the lab is operated 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and manned by 4 individuals. The production capacity can be increased by adding more equipment or by adding shifts to as much as 7200 diamonds a month. The system can be planned around the needs of a customer. For example: If a customer needs to process 500 stones per month, personnel can be reduced to just 2; on the other hand, if a customer is processing 20,000 diamonds a month expansion is achieved by adding shifts or by adding lab modules as shown above.