Production Measurement with SPC

CIMCO MNT now includes an optional SPC (Statistical Process Control) module for recording and monitoring measurements taken during production. Parts can be organized into operations and measurement points for values such as bore sizes, lengths, diameters, weights, temperatures, and other production measurements.

For each measurement point, operators can see what needs to be measured, the target value, and the permitted limits before entering the result directly in MNT. Measurements can be entered manually or using measuring equipment and barcode-style devices that send the value directly to the input field.

Instant Pass or Fail Feedback

As soon as a measurement is entered, MNT checks it against the specified limits and immediately shows whether the result is In spec or Out of spec. This gives operators direct feedback at the machine without having to calculate or compare values manually.

Measurements can use either comma or point decimal formats, and linked measurement points can guide the operator through a sequence of measurements one after another.

Monitor the Process, Not Just the Part

SPC goes beyond checking whether an individual part is within tolerance. MNT can also monitor how the production process behaves over time using statistical control limits, making it possible to detect changes before they result in rejected parts.

For example, a series of measurements may still be marked In spec, while MNT identifies the process as Out of control because the values are moving away from their normal pattern. This gives production teams an opportunity to investigate possible causes such as tool wear, offsets, temperature, material variation, or other process conditions before the parts move outside specification.

Control Charts and Process Capability

Each measurement point includes its own control chart, providing a visual overview of how measurements develop over time. MNT can display measured values together with the center line, control limits, and specification limits, while measurements that require attention are clearly highlighted.

A Moving Range chart shows how much the process changes from one measurement to the next, and the SPC view also calculates key process statistics such as Cp and Cpk. This helps users understand whether process variation fits within the required specification and whether the process is properly centered. Control limits can be calculated from collected measurements and then locked to provide a stable reference for future production.

Full Measurement History and Traceability

Every measurement is stored in MNT together with information such as operator, job, time, and comments, making it possible to review exactly how a process developed and relate changes in measurement values to events in production. If an incorrect value is entered, it can be corrected without deleting the original measurement, so both the original and corrected values remain available for full traceability.

Measurement data and charts can also be filtered by date and exported to PDF, Excel, or CSV for further analysis and documentation.

Scheduled Measurement Tasks

Measurements do not have to rely on operators remembering when they are due. MNT can create measurement tasks manually or automatically based on rules such as every part, every second part, every batch, every hour, every shift, or every day.

Tasks can be assigned to an individual employee, a group, or everyone authorized to perform measurements on the machine. Measurement points can also include drawings, photos, PDFs, and instructions, giving operators the required information directly on the measurement screen.

Integration with External Measuring Systems

External systems can create measurement tasks and send measurement results directly to MNT through the API. Each external system can have its own API key and name, making the source of every measurement traceable.

Documentation for integration with CIMCO MDC is also included. Direct MDC integration is planned for a future release.

From Maintenance to Process Visibility

The addition of SPC extends CIMCO MNT further into day-to-day production operations. Maintenance teams can already use MNT to manage faults, scheduled maintenance, service, tooling, inventory, and documentation, while SPC now gives production teams a way to follow the measurements that indicate whether a machining process remains stable and within specification.

By combining measurement history with machines, jobs, operators, and other production information, MNT provides a clearer view of both the equipment and the process around it.

SPC is optional and can be enabled under Settings → SPC. The module is available across desktop and mobile, supports all available languages, and works in both light and dark mode.

As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions. If you have any questions or comments about CIMCO MNT, please feel free to reach out to us.

Release notes

Please see the release notes under the Download section.