A Concurrent Engineering Approach to Automated Inspection Planning

Abstract A fresh perspective on the inspection planning (IP) process is considered, which views IP as a concurrent engineering (CE) activity which is carried out during the detailed design (DD) stage. Problems related to the computerised enabling of CE are highlighted. Design-by-features (DBF) methodology holds promise for bringing CE concepts out of academia into industry; although conceptually and implementationally the feature concept brings with it a host of other problems. A significant number of parameters required in an IP are decided at DD. Relevant CE-assign-able parameters are discussed under the classifications: functional, auxiliary and geometric, each of which are implementable as features in a DBF system. Some of the major hurdles to implementing ‘ interactive’ CE are also discussed. A ‘DFx cum process-planning-for-x’ orientation at the DD stage of the product life-cycle is put forward as one approach to CE.