CMM AUDIT PROGRAMME RESULTS AND LESSONS LEARNT

摘要

The Automotive Metrology Laboratory, (AML), was established in 2002 in order to improve the competitiveness of the South African automotive industry by raising the level of metrology practiced. One of the platforms from which this initiative was implemented was the "Audit platform", the main function of which was to use measurement audit programmes to highlight metrology problem areas in order for corrective actions to be designed and implemented. Since the automotive industry make intensive use of coordinate measuring machines, (CMMs), or sometimes referred to as "3 D Machines", it was decided by the AML steering committee that a CMM audit would be valuable in highlighting metrology problems in this area. An audit sample was designed and manufactured from an aluminium block which was machined to resemble a typical automotive component with holes, tapers, parallel edges, inclined planes etc. This was circulated to volunteer participants for measurement according to a prescribed protocol. The paper presents the results obtained to date and discusses the lessons learnt and possible follow up actions required to address problems identified.