Model-based Advantages for Inspection Planning and Execution

Aerospace manufacturers increasingly utilize a model-based approach to product development which does not require generating paper documentation to communicate designs. This method captures all the details of a design into a digital 3D CAD model. Though model-based definition offers a number of design advantages including reduced time-to-part and more efficient communication, it also creates unique challenges for downstream users of the design data—particularly quality engineers.

Traditional aerospace quality-planning processes have relied heavily on the 2D paper documentation of the design. But, now that design engineering teams have moved away from paper documentation, these planning processes are becoming obsolete. As a result, quality engineers need new tools within the 3D CAD environment that enable their quality processes to be utilized and, if desired, allow the execution of quality plans from within a digital 3D viewing environment.

To address these needs, VISTAGY has developed a software solution that enables quality engineers to utilize model-based definitions to help develop and execute on new quality planning processes and plans. With the VISTAGY Quality Planning Environment, quality engineers can build their plans using information from the model-based definitions within VISTAGY’s specialized engineering environments such as FiberSIM and the Airframe Design Environment, or from their native CAD software systems. Powered by VISTAGY’s unique EnCapta® technology, this commercial-off-the-shelf product enables manufacturers to more efficiently, quickly and cost-effectively develop quality planning and provides a method for execution in combination with popular 3D viewing environments. With the VISTAGY Quality Planning Environment, engineers can:

• Work directly in the 3D environment using a tool tailored for their needs;
• Incorporate model-based definitions directly into their quality plans;
• Create and execute plans in accordance with AS9102;
• Understand the rationale behind key characteristics;
• Export plans for archival purposes;
• Execute plans using the 3D environment or exported digital formats (PDF, etc.)