This work advances the field of inspection process planning by introducing novel models and optimization algorithms for off-line planning in laser radar metrology systems, where re-calibration is needed. The key contribution is a method for the automatic cycle time optimization of inspection programs, accounting for the system to be re-calibrated by measuring some of the tooling spheres. Customized algorithms are derived to solve the problem, together with a novel integer programming model based on a set covering approach for viewpoint coverage planning. The proposed method is implemented within an off-line simulation environment, where its effectiveness and limitations are analyzed through a computational study and validated in industrial scenarios.

The purpose of this article is to present research results performed within the field of geometrical inspection and control planning (GICP) applied for complex products. Geometrical and dimensional inspection and control planning are vitally important activities in modern manufacturing of complex products. These functions are interesting to manufacturers due to the demands and focus on quality work and the aim towards zero defects. The GICP model can be extended to a fully automatic process but more likely it will be implemented as a manual iterative and parallel process in the development and industrialization process of complex products. Applications for our new GICP information model will hopefully be implemented and used not only in large manufacturing plants but also in smaller companies that lack easy-to-use instructions and guidelines regarding geometrical inspection and control planning. It will also be instrumental academically, in the education of new industrial metrology engineers. In this article, our new systematic and holistic information model based on the ASTRAKAN modeling language is proposed and presented. The relation and integration of the quality assurance matrix and methodology (QAM) is also discussed and presented.