The need for local and regional programs providing MBD, Model Based Definition inspection and measurement is urgent and continuous. There is a rising demand in the A&D industry for skilled workforce enabled to use portable Measurement Science CAD-Based Software and Hardware, from Aerospace OEMs to lowest tier suppliers. Workforce Pipeline feature article – Advanced Manufacturing, June 2016

1. WORKFORCE PIPELINE feature article – Advanced Manufacturing,June 2016
SME-ManufacturingEngineeringMagazine,Author: Ray Elledge
A Monthly Feature about Training, Education & Workforce Development
“ConnectEducation with Job Opportunities”
The newDigital Thread in advanced manufacturing now incorporatesinspection,measurementand
verification,requiringskilledworkers.
Today,two-thirdsof manufacturingcompaniesreportamoderate tosevere shortage of available,
qualifiedworkers,withasmany as 5% of currentjobsgoingunfilleddue toa lackof capable candidates-
thisrepresents600,000 jobs.One technical jobareathat has beencontributingtothe problemand
opportunityisDimensionalMetrology,the science of length,size anddimensionmeasurementin2D
and 3D. That is usingreal-worldpartsanddigital space inordertocompare,analyze andverifythe real
physical partto the Original CAD-Model of the Part.
Overthe last twodecades,Dimensional Metrologytechnicianshave beeninhighdemand,withthe
trendline growingexponentiallyhigher. Thisisdue tothe adoptionof Model- BasedEnterprise (MBE)
strategiesandprocessesbytierone aerospace entities,includingDOD;NASA;Boeing;Northrop;
Lockheedandothers.
At the heartof the MBE is the CADModel;it isthe absolute authoritytodefine apart or entire product.
The core of part definitionisModel BasedDefinition(MBD),whichisdefined byhavingan
unambiguouslydefined3Ddata set,includingall necessaryGD&Tannotations.This insuresthe 3DCAD
Model containsall the informationtodefineapart or product.Inspection,measurement, analysis,build
and reverse engineeringare activitiesthatutilize MBDfeaturesforpartsand subassemblieswhichare
built, thenverifiedusinganMBD qualityinspectionprocess.MBDisthe undisputedsource of definition.
Thisprocesseliminatesthe expenseandtime consumingprocessof mock-ups,asInteroperability,
ManufacturabilityandInterference-fitsare all sortedoutpriorto the firstactual manufacturingprocess
takingplace.
''There is unlimitedopportunityforre-useof CADdata whenproductdesignintentiscaptureddigitally
and the digital threadismaintained.Digital datasetsmustbe accurate,consumable bysoftware,and
supportdirectmanufacture from3D geometry,"saidJenniferHerron,CEOof ActionEngineeringand
author of Re-Use Your CAD."In orderto Re-Use YourCAD and take advantage of MBD inspectionand
measurementopportunities,she said,"youmustfirstcreate 3Dmodels thatare compliantwith
standardmodelingpracticesandmeetASMEand ISOrequirements."
Whereasmanufacturingandqualityassurance uses3DMBD forinspectionandvalidation.MBEserves
as the authoritative informationsource forall activitiesinthe product'slifecycle.The fourtechnical
thrustareas are: ProductLifecycle ManagementIntegration,Model-BasedSystemsEngineering,Model-
BasedManufacturing,andModel-BasedWorkInstructions.
All future large scale manufacturingoperationswill be MBEwhichisthe future state of manufacturing.
The practice of using3D ModelsandTechnical Data Packagesas a single source model throughoutthe
lifecycle of aproductisquicklybecomingcommonpractice.Itprovidesareference source tobase
fundingandtrainingdecisionson.MBE isan integratedandcollaborativeenvironment,foundedon3D
MBD sharedacross the enterprise,enablingrapid,seamless,andaffordable deploymentof products
fromconceptto disposal.Itrepresentsafundamentalshiftfrom2Dto 3D or fromphysical drawingsto
virtual models.
MaintainingThe Digital Thread >
Reverse Engineering-Thedigital threadof aproduct beginsinReverse Engineeringphysical partstoCAD.

2. Thishas become increasinglyprevalentindesignandengineering workflow todayasfeaturesfrom
legacyparts withoutavailable CADdata,ororganic or othercomplex surface profilesare incorporated
intocurrentdesigns.Thoughreverse engineeringapplicationscandiffervastlytheyall have one thingin
common:the needto capture highlyaccurate surface pointsandreverse engineerthembackinto3D
CAD modelsformanufacturingandinspection.Reverseengineeringrequiresaspecializedskill-setand
comprehensive understandingof dimensionalmetrology.
Part Validation-Asthe partmovesthroughthe traditional CAD,CAEandCAM processthe digital thread
remainsintact.Once a prototype orfirstarticle part iscompletedthe digital threadmustbe extendedto
include partvalidation.
That is to compare andanalyze the actual physical part to the digital CADModel.Thisis the task of
DimensionalMetrologyinspectorsconductingqualityassurance roles.
Specializedskill-setsare requiredforqualitycontrol andqualityassurance measurementandinspection
tasksincorporatingphasesof AS9100 andIS09000. These skill-setsdovetail withtechnical abilitiesto
operate three-,five-,six- andseven-axisCoordinateMeasurementSystems(CMMs).Conformance and
relateddocumentationwithopencommunicationfortechnical coordinationenablethe processesto
flowsmoothlyalongthe digital threadtoproductacceptance.
The Dimensional Metrologyskill-gapisone of the manyin today'smanufacturingenvironment.When
referringtoBoeing'sD6-51991 specificationfoundon-line,the termMBD isa subsetto Boeing'sDPD-
Digital ProductDefinition-whichisrequiredbyall suppliersinthe Boeingsupplychain.Thissame
methodologymayapplytomultiple industries,aerospace,automotive,energy,marineandmedical to
name a few.
Closingthe SkillsGap>
There isa clearand presentneedtoeducate andtrainbothat the companyand individual level,
concepts,processesandtoolsassociatedwithDimensionalMetrology, alsoknownasMeasurement
Science.Case inpoint:typicallytierone aerospace companiesdonottrainsuppliersinDimensional
Metrology, however, theydoholdvendorsaccount- able foritseffective implementationandutilization.
Newmethodologies, conceptsandskillsetsmustbe learnedandapplied.
MeasurementScience isbothartand science blendedwithcore skillsascomputingpowerandadvanced
devicescontinue toincrease the throughputspeedof productivity.
Many educational institutionswithindustrialtechnologyprogramsincorporate threeof fourmajor
components- De- sign,EngineeringandMachine Tool.However,QualityAssurance andQualityControl
withemphasisonMeasurementScience (aka,Dimensional Metrology) oftenhave notbeenincludedor
expandedsufficientlytocompletethe educational loopforindustrial technology.
Demandishigh.Educational opportunitiesare limitedandtechnical abilitiesare demanding.
Manufacturer’s todaycall for greatereducational opportunitiestosupplythemwithskilledtechnicians.
To close the digital loop,increasedtechnical educationprogramsare encouragedtoclose the skillsgap
manufacturersexperience onadailybasis.
The needforlocal and regional programsproviding MBD, Model BasedDefinitioninspectionand
measurementisurgentandcontinuous.There isarisingdemand inthe A&Dindustryforportable
MeasurementScience skilledworkforce, fromAerospace OEMstolowest tiersuppliers.Inresponseto
Verisurf customerdemand,Verisurf Software hasenteredintocollaborativeagreementswith
educational institutions,providingcurriculumandequipmentforinstructor- ledclassroombasedlaband
lecture courseworkwithhands-onhow-tomethodologies,on-line trainingwithcertificationcourses,
classroomtrainingaidsandMBD software tostrengthenthe fundamental skill setsfortoday's
manufactures.
Verisurf offersdedicatedresourcestoworkdirectlywithteachinginstitutions,helpingthemtodevelop
and implementsuccessful Dimensional Metrology/MeasurementScience course offerings.Formore
informationvisitwww.verisurf.com.