MeasurLink Real-Time SPC Module

The Mitutoyo MeasurLink Real-Time SPC module enables users to connect virtually to any measuring device to acquire and analyze data to maximize production and minimize defects in real time. The Mitutoyo MeasurLink Real-Time SPC module is more user friendly than previous versions and is designed to collect data at the point of manufacture.

MeasurLink is an integral part of Six Sigma activities. Unlike other software, MeasurLink calculates and monitors statistical metrics as each part is measured. This Real-Time monitoring allows users to control the quality of the product during production and prevents costly defects.

Mitutoyo MeasurLink Real-Time:

• Calculates and monitors statistical metrics as each part is measured
• Real-time monitoring allows users to control the quality of the product during production
• Ability to collect data for just one or a million parts; collect data by feature, part or randomly
• View scanned blueprints, digital photographs at a glance
• Comprehensive SPC capabilities provide easy-to-use control charts, histograms, detailed statistics, assignable causes, corrective actions and traceability
• Real-time uncertainty chart displays a band around the collected feature, providing users a visual representation of how the gage performance affects measurement
• Console database backups & restore supports customer DRBC functionality or compliance initiatives without the need for the MSSQL Management Studio toolset

MeasurLink Real-Time Standard Edition is designed for customers who want to acquire and analyze data in real-time and check variables and attribute inspection to maximize production and minimize defects. It has views to allow the user to create Parts, Characteristics with nominal and tolerance and Traceability lists. Designed to collect data at the point of manufacture, operators can be alerted of trends, cycles, and nonconformance as soon as they occur. A customizable user interface allows the user nearly infinite ways to view information specific to that process. MeasurLink Real-Time has the ability to connect and acquire data from virtually any measuring device. It supports the full range of metrology technology, including calipers, micrometers, indicators, CMMs, vision systems and more.

MeasurLink 9 Real-Time Standard Edition Features and Benefits:

• User Friendly - Click the gage button and watch the charts update in real-time. This helps the operator stay on top of the process. Begin collecting data in minutes with Inspection Wizard.
• Part Pictures - View scanned blueprints, digital photographs at a glance. On-screen guided sequencing keeps the operator moving to the right feature.
• Comprehensive SPC - Easy-to-use Control Charts, Histograms, Capability, Detailed statistics, Assignable Causes, Corrective Actions, and Traceability all make this software “best in class”.
• Variable Collection Frequency - Allows characteristics of the same routine to be measured at different intervals while maintaining appropriate prompted guided sequencing.
• Multimedia Aids - Attach movies (AVI, MOV, MPG), sound (WAV) and images (BMP, JPG, TIF) to parts, routines or individual characteristics as instructional aides for an operator.
• Revision History - Track specification adjustments and preserve historical data.
• Data Acquisition and Input - Collects data from digital micrometers, calipers, indicators, bore gages, etc. Keyboard entry is a snap. Collect data for one or a million parts. Begin collecting data in 60 seconds with a “Quick Run” by defining features, tolerances and input method. Flexible data input. Collect data by feature, by part or randomly. Guided sequencing minimizes inspection errors.
• Mixed and Attribute Variable Data - Collect dimensional data (length, width, height, outside diameter, inside diameter weight, etc.). Supports derived features (calculations for run out, volume, true position, etc.) Mix your dimensions and non-conformances in the same Inspection Routine. Track defects and defectives along with your dimensional data. Collect data from visual inspections (burrs, cracks, dents, missing holes, etc.) to determine the fitness of a part. Track failures using a go/no-go style or count the defects on a characteristic to determine if a part is defective. There is complete flexibility to study the individual characteristics and as a group of them, too.
• Crystal and Flexible Reporting - Create your own customized Crystal Reports for use with Part or Run data. Build report templates with company logos and free form text. Select and position chart types to customer specification.
• Engineering Specifications - Attach drawings to parts, routines or individual characteristics for viewing. Most file formats are supported as an attachment (Word, PDF, etc.).
• Data Tests - Full support of Western Electric and Nelson Tests for pattern recognition in control charts (e.g., extreme point, trend, stratification, oscillation, etc.) along with various alerts for each failed test.
• Time Stamped Data - All observation data is marked with the data and time from the computer clock.
• Corrective Plans - Operators choose corrective action as applied to the part or process. Multiple corrective actions can be applied to any subgroup. Empower operators to build on existing Corrective Action list.
• Forced Assignable Clause - Force assignable cause tags on Inspector during collection if process is out of control. Empower operators to build on existing pick list.

MeasurLink Real-Time Professional Edition enables customers to connect and acquire data from Mitutoyo Coordinate Measuring Machines, Vision and Form Measuring Systems via native integration (DDE). In addition to all of the features supported by MeasurLink Real-Time Standard Edition, this application also supports data filters. Full reporting functionality with templates is also provided. Supported data sources include keyboard, RS232 and USB devices, native Mitutoyo integration (DDE) ASCII and QMD (XML-based) file import. MeasurLink also supports the Quality Information Framework (QIF) through the import of QIF Plans and the export of QIF Results and Statistics.

MeasurLink Real-Time Professional Edition Additional Features and Benefits:

• Import Templates - Easily create an import template that maps data in a text file to MeasurLink information. Templates are saved to the database for everyone to use and can be added as data sources to data collection stations. An import template can be verified against the source file without adding data to the system.
• Import Data - When set up as a data source, import templates are readily available to the operator, or periodic imports can be executed.
• Data Transfer - Collect data into MeasurLink from Mitutoyo capital equipment running Mitutoyo Software that is MeasurLink enabled. This provides a tighter and more robust interface than importing data from files.
• Data Filter - All data collected within a Real-Time run is related. Often, especially for runs containing a large volume of subgroups, requests are made for subsets of data that are further related from the entire run’s population. MeasurLink provides robust filtering capabilities to comply with these requests.

MeasurLink Real-Time Professional 3D Edition is designed for customers who wish to collect data using the Hoops 3D graphics view, in addition to all features offered by MeasurLink Real-Time Professional Edition. Hoops 3D files can be exported from most CAD systems and provides the operator with a real view of the part. Camera angle and position can be saved for each characteristic providing for an intuitive prompted guided sequencing for the inspector. Supported data sources include keyboard, RS232, and USB devices, native Mitutoyo integration (DDE) ASCII and QMD (XML-based) file import.

MeasurLink Real-Time Professional 3D Edition Additional Features and Benefits:

• 3D View - True three-dimensional model support with Hoops streaming files (*.HSF). Export your part’s model from Catia, Solidworks or other CAD software and place callouts in the 3D space.
• Flexible Callout Design - Callouts provide part acceptability at-a-glance. You can design them the same way as the two dimensional view to include charts or statistical information with the ability to size any element inside the callout.
• Guided Sequence - The display can automatically change during data collection to show the next or last observation point, providing a simple guided sequence for the inspection procedure. By saving a different view for each characteristic to be inspected, you can have the model rotate, pan or zoom to show the operator details of the part.

MeasurLink is Mitutoyo’s data collection and Statistical Process Control (SPC) software solution. It is the ideal solution to automate and centralize data collection, analyze inspection data, measure processes, reduce scrap and improve customer relations. MeasurLink combines Real-Time on-line data collection with Real-Time SPC charts and analysis for operators and Real-Time Quality Control/Supervisor Reports and Alerts for your entire manufacturing system. MeasurLink is designed for integrated networks to create a quality information sharing system which includes a comprehensive metrology solution for your company. Assemble a software package from any of the MeasurLink modules to satisfy your organization's specific needs.

Mitutoyo has been developing MeasurLink and serving manufacturing quality programs for more than twenty years. It represents the design input of industry experts and thousands of manufacturers across the globe. It is quality inspection, management and analysis software built on a technology platform for the most robust performance and reliability. MeasurLink can serve the smallest shop to the largest multi-national enterprise with the most ease of use and power available in SPC software today. It is designed with Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory in mind and provides the scalability, extensibility and interoperability you need in your future factory

Benefits of the MeasurLink Data Software:

• Ensure part quality and consistency
• Increase data visibility and accessibility
• Increase ease-of-use for inspectors in all environments
• Reduce manufacturing defects through the use of real-time SPC 

• MeasurLink is an integral part of Six Sigma activities. Unlike other software, MeasurLink calculates and monitors statistical metrics as each part is measured. This Real-Time monitoring allows users to control the quality of the product during production and prevent costly defects
• Live statistical data testing
• Email alerts and alarms for out-of-control processes
• Real time Cp, Cpk, Pp and Ppk calculations
• Immediate pre-control, X-Bar R and IMR charting
• Assignable cause and corrective action data entry
• MeasurLink allows companies to control the quality of their processes by identifying and reducing process variation

AS9100 requires a great focus on establishing and complying with design requirements. MeasurLink uses a Part, Routine and Characteristic structure that allows users to build and maintain a system to ensure the customer’s design requirements are being inspected and held to conformance. AS9102 describes the details for first article inspection while AS9103 defines the expectations for statistical process control. Multiple Routines, or the use of Variable Inspection Frequency along with Real-Time SPC, allows the user to ensure these inspection requirements are met.

Continuous Improvement activity is nonstop in automotive facilities locally and globally. Constantly improving your process will not only improve the quality of your products, it will also save you money. By having more efficient processes, customer satisfaction will also improve. Use MeasurLink to:

• Reduce scrap
• Prevent non-conformities
• Reduce cycle time
• Improve tool life accuracy

Traceability is information about a part that is important, but not a measurement. This information can be collected and used as criteria for filtering the data.

• Serial Number, Lot Number, Customer, Invoice, Order Fixture, Machine Line, Material Type, etc.

This information is just as important as the actual measurement data. Many energy components have a long life in use and retention and access to not only measurements, but traceability data that is necessary to ensure the component is up to the job. MeasurLink data is easily retained and accessible to meet this need.

Part 11 applies to drug makers, medical device manufacturers, biotech and other FDA-regulated industries. It requires manufacturers to implement controls including audits, system validations, audit trails, electronic signatures, and documentation for software and systems involved in processing the electronic data. MeasurLink implements strong support for these requirements. Some of the tools used in Part 11 Compliance are:

• Electronic signatures
• Audit trails
• Unique users and login credentials
• Software validation 

Measurement data is only useful if it can be found when it is needed. Manufacturers need instant access to data regardless of when or where it was measured. MeasurLink Process Analyzer meets the analytical and reporting needs of manufacturers.

• Filter data by traceability items
• Merge data from other Lots or processes
• Generate reports on current or historical data
• Summary reports allow complex review of large amounts of data
• Multivariate charting allows analysis of correlation
• Access data from any workstation in system, across the room or anywhere on your network