Published 11/25/2020

High QA's Inspection Manager 5.1 Update Streamlines Workflow

High QA’s Inspection manager 5.1 update brings a host of workflow upgrades to the software, including Manufacturing Key Sets and AQL-based sample planning.

Edited by: Evan Doran

Senior Associate Editor, Modern Machine Shop

High QA has released Version 5.1 of its Inspection Manager (IM) software, which features increased automation and enhanced workflows.

Inspection Manager is a database-driven solution for manufacturing quality management throughout the production and supply chain process. The centralized database contains manufacturing inspection plans, ballooned drawings, inspection results, First Article Inspection (FAI) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) reporting for improved accountability, traceability and repeatability. The streamlined quality inspection process eliminates paper documents, prevents human interpretation errors, standardizes best practices and increases collaboration and compliance on the shop floor.

Version 5.1 continues support for key industries and compliance standards including Aerospace (AS9100/EN9100, AS9102), Automotive (QS-9000/ISO/TS16949, APQP, AIAG guidance), Medical (21CFR, ISO 13485), Defense, Heavy Machinery and Oil and Energy.

Integrated AQL-based sample planning in Inspection Manager Version 5.1 provides an efficient workflow with data and plans in one centralized database. Users can run sampling plans across multiple jobs and modify them easily.

The new Manufacturing Key Sets feature groups dimensions by cutting tools to reflect the way users make parts on the shop floor. The software color-codes these groups on the print for easy identification, and marks the most critical dimension in each group as a Key dimension. When the Key dimension passes inspection, the software marks the remaining members of the Manufacturing Key Set as passed.

Inspection Manager’s security control access system allows managers to restrict part record access based on ‘need to know’ or ITAR requirements.

Other changes to IM 5.1 include the ability to see inspection status for a part and detailed gage history, increasing visibility and traceability across lots and jobs. An enhanced OCR system captures a higher percentage of GD&T from poor quality drawings, adds new balloon shapes and arrows and incorporates a drag and drop feature for adding custom requirements if not found in the drawing.