PDES, Inc. and DMSC, Inc. Sign Memorandum of Understanding

PDES, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC^TM, Inc.). Both organizations seek to improve the ways tools work together to improve standards development, analysis, and define applications of industry standards.

PDES, Inc. and DMSC seek to improve the quality and manufacturability of product information through standardization by promoting the Quality Information Framework (QIF), and STEP/QIF Integration, as part of the ISO/TC 184/SC 4 portfolio. The two organizations plan to support joint projects to reach that goal.

Dr. Michael R. Jahadi, President of the PDES, Inc. Board, stated, “This new MoU will enhance the interoperability of standards by leveraging the expertise within both organizations through collaborative projects. By supporting the integration of STEP/QIF, we can reduce cycle time and operational cost while improving the quality of data required for the downstream consumption of Model-Based Enterprise (MBE). As a result, both organizations could achieve their business goals and objectives.”

Curtis Brown, President of DMSC, commented “We’re excited about working with PDES Inc. to continue supporting harmonization of QIF and STEP.  A key benefit of collaboration between our two organizations will be enhanced industry availability and implementation of QIF/STEP tools in an MBE environment. Better utilization of connected Quality information will enhance design and manufacturing processes, resulting in faster time to market and lower production costs for companies with a vision of Industry 4.0.”

The Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC, Inc.), founded in 2005, is a non-profit consortium organization with the responsibility of developing and maintaining the QIF standard. The broader mission is to promote, foster, and develop interoperability standards and quality data frameworks for the manufacturing field of digital metrology.  The purpose of these digital metrology standards is to positively impact the digital thread for the Model-Based Enterprise.  The DMSC is an ANSI Accredited Standards Developing Organization, as well as an A-Liaison to ISO. The consortium invites participation within the consortium of other standards groups and activities that seek to resolve the technology and other issues of automated (digital) metrology.

Mark Thomas
Executive Director, DMSC, Inc.
Phone: 1 (585) 451-5800
mark.thomas@qifstandards.org

PDES, Inc. is a participation-based consortium focused on the development and implementation of model-based standards to support the digital enterprise. Founded in 1988, the organization includes members from Industry, Government and Academia.

Dr. Michael R.  Jahadi, PE
President and Chairman of PDES, Inc.
Phone: 1 (817) 935-4537
Michael.R.Jahadi@LMCO.com

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The DMSC mission has grown and evolved since our founding in 2005, and we felt it was time for a change. We have refreshed our logo to reflect and emphasize our direct connection to the Quality Information Framework (QIF) standard.

While many know and recognize QIF, the DMSC is less well known – even though DMSC is the organization that developed the QIF standard. The new DMSC logo design is intended to make it easier to understand the connection between DMSC and QIF.

The DMSC objective is to develop, enhance and support digital metrology standards, focused primarily on QIF and the Dimensional Measuring Interface Standard (DMIS).

Our task in the upcoming months will be to update our branded collateral and digital footprint with this updated logo. These changes will take some time and will be completed gradually.

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Everyday QIF Explained at Metromeet

Jennifer Herron, CEO of Action Engineering (Golden, Colorado, USA) and Board Director of Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC), will present on Quality Information Framework (QIF) at the virtual 2021 Metromeet Conference: “How this new ISO standard can be used for interoperability of 3D metrology data”.

Online registration for this virtual version of Metromeet is now open.

Click here to read more about this important conversation about QIF in the workspace.

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The recent 3-part QIF webinar series exceeded registration and attendance expectations and produced excellent reviews by many participants. The webinars, each running about 40 minutes, covered QIF basics (QIF 101), QIF schema (QIF 201) and more advanced applications (QIF 301).

The webinar series was marketed through a series of email blasts and the DMSC newsletter. Webinar attendance:

• QIF 101; Understanding QIF Basics, presented by Curtis Brown – 130 participants
• QIF 201; Outlining the QIF Schemas, presented by Daniel Campbell – 145
• QIF 301; A Beginners Guide to QIF 3.0 Implementation, presented by Tom Kramer – 220

Engagement was high, based on the number and quality of participant questions at the end of each session.

When considering Registration vs Attendance performance, the industry average is about 46% (Webinar Benchmarks Report from ON24) – this QIF webinar series produced nearly 70% for that benchmark.

The entire 3-part QIF webinar series was recorded and is now available from the QIF website on the newly added “Resources” page.  QIF Webinar presentations are available for download in PDF format from our Resources page, along with the QIF 3.0 standard and other important DMSC assets.

Future QIF webinars are being considered as an ongoing DMSC activity.

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Webinar: QIF 201
Outlining the QIF Schemas
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020

This event has now passed; however the webinar was recorded and is now available for viewing along with a PDF of the presentation on our QIF Resources page.

More on this past webinar:
DMSC Board Director Daniel Campbell reviewed the technology of the standard, the structure of the QIF, and top-level data elements of the QIF schema.

Open to All: Please share the webinar video & PDF download link found on our QIF Resources page freely with your peers and colleagues.

Recorded Access: These webinar tutorials were recorded and are now available for viewing on our QIF Resources page.

Recommendation before or after viewing the webinar: Download QIF 3.0 (free)

Webinar Series:

QIF 101 Understanding QIF Basics
One must understand the basics of the ANSI/DMSC Quality Information Framework (QIF) interoperability standard. DMSC President Curtis Brown discussed what QIF is, why it matters and how it provides benefit to the Model-Based Enterprise (MBE).

QIF 201 Reviewing QIF Technology
DMSC Board Director Daniel Campbell reviewed the technology of the standard, the structure of the QIF, and top-level data elements of the QIF schema.

QIF 301 Coding QIF Applications
QIF 301 got more technical as we shared one way to write code implementing the QIF. DMSC Member Tom Kramer followed a code writing approach using a common coding language. Viewers gained a better understanding of what the QIF is, how it can be used and implemented, and why it is needed for the connected digital cyber/physical enterprise.

These webinars were announced via DMSC newsletters and website postings. Sign up to be added to the DMSC contact list.

DMSC plans to participate in the next MBE Summit which has been rescheduled for 2021.

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Webinar: QIF 101
Understanding QIF Basics
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020

This event has now passed; however the webinar was recorded and is now available for viewing along with a PDF of the presentation on our QIF Resources page.

More on this past event:
First, one must understand the basics of the ANSI/DMSC Quality Information Framework (QIF) interoperability standard.  DMSC President Curtis Brown discussed what QIF is, why it matters and how it provides benefit to the Model-Based Enterprise (MBE).

Open to All: Please share the webinar video & PDF download link found on our QIF Resources page freely with your peers and colleagues.

Recorded Access: These webinar tutorials were recorded and are now available for viewing on our QIF Resources page.

Recommendation before or after viewing the recorded webinar: Download QIF 3.0 (free)

Don’t Miss:

QIF 201 Reviewing QIF Technology
DMSC Board Director Daniel Campbell reviewed the technology of the standard, the structure of the QIF, and top-level data elements of the QIF schema.

QIF 301 Coding QIF Applications
QIF 301 got more technical as we shared one way to write code implementing the QIF.  DMSC Member Tom Kramer followed a code writing approach using a common coding language. Viewers gained a better understanding of what the QIF is, how it can be used and implemented, and why it is needed for the connected digital cyber/physical enterprise.

The above webinars were announced via DMSC newsletters and website postings. Sign up to be added to the DMSC contact list.

DMSC plans to participate in the next MBE Summit which has been rescheduled for 2021.

The post DMSC Webinar: QIF 101 Basics appeared first on DMSC.

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 was authored by a team of DMSC Board Members and 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.

BACKGROUND

Today’s manufacturing enterprise is plagued with the problem of disconnected, disorganized, and duplicated data. Furthermore, recent advances have seen an exponential increase in the volume of industrial data being generated, particularly data related to computer-controlled systems of all types. Terms like “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT) and “Industry 4.0” describe this revolution in big data. However, fundamental issues exist that need resolution. First, the majority of data is only minimally accessible and is unable to be mapped to data from other domains of a manufacturing enterprise. For example, how does raw data collected from a sensor embedded in a jet engine gets mapped to the machine tool operation which machined the blades or the shaft of the engine? A mapping of this type would require a human-in-the-loop to carry out the association based on a tedious study of the part serial number, then a review of the records for the manufacturing process, then the machine tool reporting logs, and finally then a hand-generated mapping to the machining of the feature in question. Reliance on a human-in-the-loop presents the following issues: it is a tedious process of high cognitive load which introduces errors, it is costly, it is not an efficient use of engineer’s time, and it prevents software algorithms for automatically mining the data for meaningful patterns and anomalies. A second fundamental problem faced in the field of industrial big data is the inaccessibility of the different data formats encountered. Data is stored in a variety of file formats (e.g., PDF, TXT, TIF, CSV, XLS, STEP, JT, IGES, PRT, QIF, XML, etc.). Some of these formats are proprietary, and require costly software tools to access the data. Other formats are common for archival, but are of minimal utility for software data mining (e.g., a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) inspection report stored in PDF format). Therefore, the issue of non-robust data formats prevents industry from easily connecting troves of data to the digital thread.

THE QUALITY INFORMATION FRAMEWORK (QIF)

The Quality Information Framework (QIF) was created by a group of manufacturers, software and hardware vendors, and metrology experts within the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) as a response to this dilemma. QIF is a feature-based ontology of manufacturing metadata, built on XML technology, with the foundational requirement of maintaining traceability of all metadata to the “single source of truth” – the product and all its components as defined in CAD/MBD. It is an open, ANSI standard which includes support for a complete semantic derivative Model Based Definition (MBD) model, measurement planning information, and measurement results information. This characterization allows users to establish a Digital Twin by capturing the duality of aspects of manufacturing data: the as-designed product, and the as-manufactured product – including the mappings between the two aspects …

Click here to read the complete whitepaper.

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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)

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You are invited to join an open round-table discussion with representatives from the QIF Community, authors, implementers, users, and thought leaders at the NIST MBE Summit 2019. Those at the table will discuss the scope and uses for the new ANSI/DMSC QIF v3.0 standard and status on progressing QIF as an ISO/QIF.  We will also discuss the development and adoption of QIF from vendors and large industrial end users.

Presentation:  April 3rd, Session #16-E @ 14:10

The manufacturing industry is recognizing that the Quality Information Framework (QIF) standard has become a viable solution for fulfilling their data interoperability voids within a digital product realization enterprise. Not only does the QIF specifically address digital metrology’s needs for a robust, common measurement results format, it also exceeds quality planning needs by resolving the feature-based, semantic-PMI requirements within a Model-Based Definition. Furthermore, industry is realizing the power of digitally-persistent, universally-unique, product characteristics (aka Bill of Characteristics) that opens huge opportunities for closed-loop feedback throughout the digital Model-Based Enterprise. All within an easy to implement, modern data schema and exchange format.

Recently, the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) successfully promoted QIF as ANSI /DMSC QIF v3.0 2018. Furthermore, the ISO/TC 184/SC 4 (the maintainers of the STEP AP203 and AP242 standards), via their Digital Manufacturing working group (WG15) sponsored the harvesting of the ANSI/QIF standard to become an ISO/QIF 23592 standard.

You are invited to take a seat at the QIF “Round-Table” and join representatives from the QIF Community in an open discussion on QIF related topics. Sit with QIF authors, QIF implementers, QIF industry end-users, MBD specialists, DMSC board members, and other thought leaders as together we all share our QIF stories past, present, and future. Hear stories of success and struggles in changing manufacturing processes and cultures towards the adoption of MBE using QIF. Gain insights from the QIF authors and implementers. Hear the vision and plans for what QIF is and can be used for. Then ask your questions, share your perspective and concerns on the current or next generation of digital manufacturing.

Some questions that might be asked include: Why has QIF been garnering so much attention from large industrial end users over the last few years? How can QIF and semantic Model Based Definition be implemented effectively in my organization?

We invite you to join in the conversation.  We have a fine collection of experts gathered who will be at the table. Reach out to us with your questions and thoughts before or during the Summit:

Curtis Brown | Honeywell FM&T | Kansas City, MO USA
Daniel Campbell | Capvidia | TX, USA
Coleman Donnelly | Stryker | USA
Rich Eckenrode | Elysium Inc. | MI, USA
Jennifer Herron | Action Engineering | Golden, CO, USA
Omar El-Abed | GE Appliances | USA
Martin Hardwick | STEP Tools | NY, USA
Ryan Gelotte | Action Engineering | Golden, CO, USA
Cory Leland | John Deere | IA, USA
Mark Nielsen | TechAzul | CA, USA
Ray Stahl | Kotem | VT, USA
Bob Stone | Origin International | Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

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Under the DMSC, a working group develops Rule Types and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Schema in the QIF standard. The goal is to develop a rule model, i.e., the standard of representing rules used in inspection process planning.

Following is a summary of the QIF 3.0 Enhancements:

• Expansion of measurement workflow use cases supported by QIF
• Improvements to PMI modeling to support common CAD systems annotations like those from SolidWorks, PTC Creo, NX, and CATIA
• Concise measurement point storage
• Increased harmonization with ISO Geometrical Product Specification
• Improved support for metrology software and fitting algorithm specifications
• Improved traceability in statistics, including an option for bulk raw data
• Enhanced support for a comprehensive array of measurement device types in QIF Resources
• Support for measurement resource selection via QIF Rules
• Improved XSLT data integrity checking

The latest 3.0 version is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard and was submitted and achieved ISO/TC184/SC4 fast-track approval. One of the key functions in QIF is measurement rule types and XML schema, i.e., QIF Rules. These rules provide industry with a standard way of representing and sharing dimensional measurement strategy and resources selection rules in a supplier network employing various CAD software platforms. For example, an OEM can specify what type of coordinate measuring machine, probes, and probe tips can be used based on the tightest tolerance, smallest internal feature size, longest internal feature size, feature orientations in a setup, the part bounding box sizes in X, Y, and Z, and measurement requirements.

Curtis Brown, President of DMSC commented: “We are thrilled to announce the approval of QIF v3.0 – 2018 as a new ANSI/DMSC standard. This QIF release amounts to the culmination of many hours of research, industry pilot projects, and feedback from production environments using QIF. We anticipate that this new release will continue the enthusiasm of using the QIF standard for both software/hardware providers and the manufacturing supply chain. Furthermore, this QIF data interoperability standard can realize downstream process automation and upstream data traceability that will enable manufacturing quality to become a key enabler for a model-based enterprise”.

QIF is an American National Standard supporting Digital Thread concepts in engineering applications ranging from product design through manufacturing to quality inspection. Based on the XML Standard, it contains a Library of XML Schema ensuring both data integrity and data interoperability in Model Based Enterprise implementation.  DMSC is responsible for the oversight and maintenance of this standard.

Download QIF 3.0
Learn More about the QIF Standard

For More Information:
Curtis Brown, President
Digital Metrology Standards Consortium
Email: info@qifstandards.org
Website: qifstandards.org

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