Burleson, Texas –— The Dimensional Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) has formally approved four technical specifications that will standardize three critical digital information exchange interfaces for model-based manufacturing quality measurement.  These technical specifications have been submitted to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for standardization and will be known collectively as the Quality Information Framework (QIF)™v1.0 . All dimensional metrology systems users and solution providers are now requested to review these specifications (at www.qifstandards.org) before they become ANSI standards.

QIF defines an integrated set of information models which enable the effective exchange of metrology data throughout the entire manufacturing quality measurement process - from product design to inspection planning to execution and analysis.   QIF models include quality characteristics and measurement features as defined in the ASME Y14.5 specification and the Dimensional Measuring Interface Standard (DMIS). This new standard will cover a wide variety of use cases including dimensional metrology inspection, first article inspection (SAE AS9102), reverse engineering, and discrete quality measurement. QIF v1.0 provides a standardized solution for defining measurement scope (e.g., bill of characteristics), inspection plans, and measurement results.

"Finally, a no-cost, open, digital exchange standard has been defined that meets the immediate need for a common quality measurement results format.  Furthermore, the QIF addresses the needs for quality measurement planning which contains the flexibility of communicating the measurement scope or bill of characteristic of what needs to be inspected as well as sharing a more detailed inspection plan of what and how to measure." said DMSC President Curtis Brown.  "We have demonstrated that vendors can easily implement this XML-based standard and they should save themselves money.  Moreover, using this standard will allow my company to avoid non-value added costs and allow our engineers to proactively respond to internal and external manufacturing needs.  Lastly, I am particularly satisfied that the QIF will progress dimensional metrology within a Model-Based Enterprise.”

“End users and vendors both greatly benefit from QIF.  It is very accurate, cost effective, and can be used throughout the entire quality measurement process”, said Ray Admire, DMSC treasurer and chairman of the Quality Measurement Standards Committee. “As a large supplier in the aerospace and defense industry this interoperable solution could help throughout the whole supply chain where we can provide measurement plans and then receive the associated results right back into our SPC or FMEA systems for cause and corrective action. This is breakthrough technology for interoperability throughout our supply chain and I am really excited about it and the future it brings to our doorstep.”