One of the goals of the recent MBE/QIF Summit was to encourage dialogue among proponents of two standards – the STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) community and the QIF (Quality Information Framework) community. Individually, both standards are well-known in the industrial manufacturing universe, and each comes from different starting concepts on the design vs quality approach to manufacturing.

What Are STEP and QIF files?

STEP files are vendor-neutral CAD files that contain product data, including geometry, assembly information, PMI (product and manufacturing information), and other metadata. QIF also starts with CAD data but is focused on communicating manufacturing and inspection data.

Both ISO standards, STEP and QIF are standards that are accepted by companies that have moved ahead with a Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) as a strategy. However, such forward-thinking applies to a small number of large companies that understand the vision and the benefits of how MBE will benefit their bottom line. The decision to move to MBE is an important corporate strategy and has major effects on corporate critical processes and ways of thinking about the whole process as one, which leaves uncommitted companies cautious about starting the MBE journey.

Is One Better than the Other?

As essential as both STEP and QIF are in an MBE environment, there is confusion about which standard is the “right one.” In some cases, the decision is made using a specific point of view as the starting point, and a comprehensive understanding of STEP and QIF eludes some companies as they examine their own MBE implementation.

The confusion about whether to use STEP or QIF as strategic tools continues and has hampered the widespread implementation of MBE. Each standard has advantages and disadvantages, leaving companies feeling like they need to make the decision “either.” In reality, STEP and QIF can work together and, indeed, may be found to be complementary standards that support a MBE strategy.

Better understanding is the key. At the 2024 MBE/QIF Summit, experts started a conversation on harmonizing STEP/QIF functionality and usage within the manufacturing community. At this point, the formation of a discussion group is in the early stages. Representatives from PDES, Inc., DMSC, Inc., and the user community are forming a discussion group to work through technical issues and dispel misconceptions.

Sam Gambrel (Lockheed Martin and DMSC BoD member) is monitoring these early discussions on behalf of DMSC.

Expect to see future DMSC announcements about this important discussion group.

The post STEP – QIF Discussion Gains Momentum appeared first on DMSC.

Many inspection tools have the capability of automated data collection, which generate mountains of data, traditionally much of which are not put to good use. Modern quality systems, however, can interpret this metrology data allowing for real-time process changes that can lead to increased efficiency and higher quality.

Understanding and using the data is key to making smart decisions in a data-rich manufacturing environment that is moving towards Industry 4.0. Even small and medium sized companies can make quality systems an integral part of the manufacturing ecosystem, an essential element in the Industry 4.0 vision. Sam Golan, CEO of High QA, Inc. explains how contract manufacturers have already brought the promise of Quality 4.0 and Industry 4.0 closer to reality. Read the article (5 minute read).

We are pleased to share this article composed by one of our important DMSC Members for Quality Magazine. For more information about the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), its working groups responsible for maintaining and enhancing the Quality Information Framework (QIF) standard, or membership, contact Mark Thomas, Executive Director.

The post Software Technology Advances the Practicality of Quality 4.0 appeared first on DMSC.

The Quality Show, launched in 2015, is a 3-day trade show dedicated to connecting quality manufacturing professionals with process improvement vendors for all things QUALITY. Thousands of manufacturing professionals and engineers come to network, attend education sessions and take home actionable solutions that can improve quality in your manufacturing planning.

Stop by Booth #1934 and visit with the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium members in attendance to learn more about:

• current ISO status of the QIF Standard
• QIF Tech Series Coffee Chats (QIF User Case Studies)
• projects our Working Groups have on their respective drawing boards
• what’s coming up for 2022
• membership in the DMSC

Robert Brown of Mitutoyo will present at the Quality Show Learning Theater:
Tuesday, October 26th @ 1pm CDT
Interoperability for Feedback Loops from Dimensional Metrology in Digital Manufacturing using QIF

Robert Brown received a BS in Physics from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and an MBA from the Northern Illinois University. 25 years of experience in metrology and manufacturing specializing in MeasurLink application development for quality data acquisition, management, and analysis.

He serves as a chair of the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) Quality Information Framework (QIF) Statistics Working Group. Robert co-authored the book Information Modeling for Interoperable Dimensional Metrology. Current responsibilities include managing software research and systems development at Mitutoyo America Corporation.

The post The Quality Show appeared first on DMSC.

QIF standard benefits MBE in two important ways: (1) automation of cyber-physical processes, allowing faster realization of higher quality products at lower cost, and (2) by providing traceability of massive quantities of measurement-related data to the authority product definition model. Over the last decade, efforts have been made to develop digital interoperability standards that address the connection points for information transfer through the product lifecycle. Through early work in the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), new data models have emerged and achieved significant maturity levels.

Presentation:  April 3rd, Session #16-B @ 15:35

The benefits of automation and business process systemization are made possible with meaningful, semantic data packaged in the QIF format. With Model-Based Definition (MBD) data (i.e., PMI, FT&A, etc.) becoming more commonplace, QIF is becoming an attractive complete and unambiguous MBD delivery mechanism for industrial end users. In addition to automation benefits, QIF helps to provide data traceability in this age of Big Data, where traceability is sorely needed. MBE provides a paradigm for organizing this data by mapping it all to a meaningful product definition: the master model-based definition enabled by a product data management system. QIF is designed to instantiate this MBE approach to data management.

This paper will explain the background for why QIF is needed, and the features built into QIF which will ensure that it is equipped to handle the needs of modern industry.

The QIF 3.0 standard is available for free download now.

Joining Curtis Brown on the panel will be:
Daniel Campbell (Capvidia, United States)
Curtis Brown (Honeywell FM&T, United States)
Jennifer Herron (Action Engineering, United States)
Robert Brown (Mitutoyo America Corporation, United States)
John Horst (NIST, United States)
Ray Admire (QIF Solutions, United States)

The post Why QIF Matters: A Road Map for Digital Manufacturing appeared first on DMSC.