The document discusses the use of the DISCUS software for in-process inspection planning, emphasizing its role in managing technical data packages (TDP) to ensure part specifications are met throughout manufacturing. Key features include cost-effectiveness, modular licensing, and integration capabilities with other systems, making it a preferred tool in the aerospace industry. It highlights the software's ability to streamline processes and improve characteristic accountability during inspections.

1. DISCUS
for
In-Process Inspection Planning
January 2014
March 11, 2006
© 2014 DISCUS Software Company

2. Emerging Industry Demands
 Renewed emphasis on affordability with Model Based
Enterprise
 Need to associate each part characteristics with
specific operation on job routing
 Provide operation-specific work instructions that
include illustrations and 3D views
 Leverage the Bill of Characteristics for both First
Article Inspection as well as In-process Inspection
2

3. The TDP Defines the Part’s Requirements
Part Model
or Drawing
Process
Specifications
Purchase
Order
Supplemental
Requirements
Material
Specifications
The Technical Data Package (TDP) defines the
requirements for a specific part
3

4. Making the TDP Useful for Inspection Planning
Drawing/Model
Characteristic
requirements
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
No
No
Key
No
Key
No
No
Docs/Specs
Characteristic
requirements
Bill of Characteristics (BoC)
Profile of a Surface: <= 0.01 in
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Major
Note: .112-40-UNC-2B4 PLACES
Note: 3.750-16-UN-2A
Surface Roughness: <= 32 uin
True Position: <= 0.001 in
Weld IAW Spec PS1280
Parallelism: <= 0.0005 in
Bringing all of the TDP components together to
better define common expectations for a part
4

5. TDP and the Associated Business Processes
Tech Data Package
(TDP)
Producibility
Design for Manufacturing
CMM
Coordinate Measuring Machines
FAI
First Article Inspection
CAPP
Computer-Aided Process Planning
Many manufacturing and quality-related
business processes are dependent upon the TDP
5

6. DISCUS for FAI
Identify all characteristics on
final part for 100% characteristic
Accountability… support FAI
5
2
1
4
3
Ballooned
Drawing
Bill of
Characteristics
The most common use of DISCUS is to dramatically
reduce the cost of first article inspection
6

7. DISCUS Planner for In-Process Inspection
Op Seq 10
Assign
Characteristics
to Operations
and create
process
planning
Op Seq 20
5
2
2
1
3
Ballooned
Drawing
Bill of
Characteristics
Work
Instructions
7
Op Seq Final
1
4
4
Ballooned
Drawing
Bill of
Characteristics
Work
Instructions
3
Ballooned
Drawing
Bill of
Characteristics
Work
Instructions

8. DISCUS Planner - Screen Layout
Routing
Panel
Drawing
Panel
Instructions
Panel
Op Detail
Panel
BoC
Panel
8

9. DISCUS Planner - Screen Layout
Process Illustration
for Op Seq 100
Work Instructions
for Op Seq 100
The Operation selected
here establishes
context for other panels
Inspection Characteristics
for Op Seq 100
9

10. DISCUS Planner Input-Output
Input Data
Final Part
Drawing
Routing
Outline
In-Process
Drawing
Mfg/QA
Engineer
Output Information
Summary
Routing
Select
Identify & Associate
Mfg Operations Characteristics
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
PDF
Drawing
Work
Instructions
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
Operations
Analysis
10

11. Scenarios for Input Data
Scenario
Process Illustrations
A
Drawing
None
B
Model
None
C
Drawing
Drawing
D
Model
Model
E
11
Final Part Definition
Model
Drawing

12. Scenario A – Final Part Drawing
Final Part
Definition Drawing
A view of final
for this op
A view of final
for this op
Op Seq 10
Op Seq 20
Op Seq 999
5
2
2
1
3
4
1
4
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Work
Instructions
Work
Instructions
Work
Instructions
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
12
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
3

13. Scenario C – Part Drawing Process Illustrations
Starting Proc
Illustration for
Op Seq 10
Op Seq 10
Final Part
Definition Drawing
Starting Proc
Illustration for
Op Seq 20
Op Seq 20
Op Seq 999
5
2
2
1
3
4
1
4
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Work
Instructions
Work
Instructions
Work
Instructions
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
13
Process
Illustrations
(Ballooned
Drawings)
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
Inspection
Sheets (Bill of
Characteristics)
3

14. DISCUS Planner
You can assign
characteristics
from the main
drawing panel at
any time with a rt
click on the
balloon
14
The available
ops roll-out for
selection

15. DISCUS Planner
Export Process Plan is
much more granular
where you can define
the operations you
want to export. You can
define the items and
format uniquely for
each operation
15

16. Benefits of DISCUS
1.
Focused Tools – DISCUS was specifically created for the Manufacturing
Engineers and Quality Engineers and the tasks that they must
address. It focuses on the labor-intensive and error-prone work
involved in using a TDP.
2.
Cost Effective – DISCUS doesn’t require the cost or complexity of
learning a CAD tool or consuming a CAD license for ballooning and
characteristic identification.
3.
Modular Licensing – DISCUS is based on an architecture that enables a
company to get only what is needed, and then add functionality later
when ready.
4.
Market Leader – DISCUS is the most used tool for characteristic
identification in the aerospace industry, where companies have
actually acquired the suite of tools for their own use and experienced
tangible business benefits.
16

17. Benefits of DISCUS
5.
Comprehensive Requirements – DISCUS addresses and consolidates
the requirements of the entire TDP, including material and process
specifications.
6.
Consistent Operation – DISCUS provides a common user interface and
operation for both 2D and 3D, and it works with many different 3D
CAD formats, allowing support of multiple customers with one tool.
7.
Complete Solution – DISCUS provides a software suite with a shared
database, from ballooning and illustrations to reporting and
dashboards. DISCUS provides a single source of the truth.
8.
Integration Capability – DISCUS enables integration of the
characteristic management system with other internal computer
systems such as ERP and PDM.
9.
Flexible Deployment – DISCUS is based on an technology
infrastructure that allows the solution to be externally hosted or
installed behind a firewall.
17

18. 614-360-2424
www.DISCUSsoftware.com