Hexagon launches Metrology Reporting software for quality control analysis

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division has launched a new cloud-based metrology trend reporting software for quality professionals and manufacturing teams.

Designed to enable greater productivity, Hexagon's Metrology Reporting software automatically acquires and processes real-time data, allowing manufacturing teams to quickly analyse and report on key quality control metrics and in turn resolve issues sooner.

Recognising dated user experiences and processes based on analytics lead to user frustration, inefficiency and slower workflows, Hexagon has sought to develop the metrology trend reporting software. Metrology Reporting, a Nexus App, utilises Hexagon's platform capabilities to help companies 'unlock untapped metrology data' from their equipment, identify tolerance issues and trace back part problems to a batch ID. This, Hexagon believes, will allow users to obtain a greater understanding of any issues and deliver faster resolutions. Hexagon also says it makes critical indicators available for all users through a clear user interface and provides up-to-date reporting on any device at any time.

Cloud access, meanwhile, enables users to track the measurements trends of a part against defined tolerances and quality controls, trace failures back to the source, and generate metrology reports more efficiently for continuous improvement. External users can also be invited to access a live read-only report through Nexus, a capability that has been incorporated to streamline compliance reporting and reviews with customers or suppliers.

For more experienced quality professionals, the software complements their preferred desktop applications with an 'intuitive modern user experience' that streamlines reporting and saves time. At launch, the App connects to popular metrology software such as Hexagon's PC-DMIS and QUINDOS and will also support third-party sources, providing instant cloud data management and reporting without any new on-premise IT. Viewing metrology data from PC-DMIS and QUINDOS enables users to monitor dimensional quality metrics across batches of parts, and to drill down into an individual part from mobile devices when away from the shop floor.

Manufacturing teams also benefit from added peace of mind that team members can receive automated alerts when production strays out of tolerance. By logging in through any browser, users can access metrology data wherever and whenever it is needed. Filters and reporting functions help get to the required information quickly.

"Customers can easily upload untapped metrology data to spot trends and address quality issues fast," commented Gary Peacock, General Manager Metrology Software, Hexagon. "Feeding quality data back into the hands of people who are making parts is essential to transform quality and productivity, but that doesn't mean disrupting how you work – quite the opposite. Metrology Reporting augments our desktop software like PC-DMIS or QUINDOS with the benefits of cloud, intuitive visualisation and user experiences, making it easier to work with colleagues and external stakeholders."

Hexagon's Nexus Digital Reality Platform is designed to unblock innovation bottlenecks and enable multi-disciplinary teams to collaborate across the product lifecycle. Nexus, Hexagon believes, will help manufacturers 'unlock new data insights, break down silos and collaborate to solve problems faster and more easily together.' By connecting metrology data to Nexus, customers will be able to access a growing number of Nexus-connected Apps and Solutions to enable closed loop quality and record missing data attributed to the digital thread.

At launch, all data flow is currently through Hexagon's PC-DMIS and QUINDOS software. It will support other Hexagon software including VGSTUDIO Max and Inspire, and is also open to other vendors.

The launch of Metrology Reporting comes just days after the company introduced the PRESTO automated robotic inspection cell.