Automated 3D Scanning Solution for Automotive Parts Inspection

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by electrification, lightweight materials, and a growing demand for smarter, more efficient production processes. In this rapidly evolving landscape, quality control and metrology have become critical. Manufacturers must ensure that each component—no matter how small—meets stringent quality standards to maintain performance, safety, and compliance. However, conventional inspection methods often struggle to keep up with the speed, complexity, and digital integration demanded by Industry 4.0.

Automotive Component Manufacturer

CIE Automotive is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automotive components and sub-assemblies. The company produces a wide range of parts for major automotive OEMs. Its portfolio includes products for powertrains, gearboxes, chassis, steering systems, and structural elements, utilizing diverse materials such as forged steel, aluminum, composites, and stamped sheet metal. These components are used across a wide array of vehicles—from passenger cars and light trucks to commercial and off-road vehicles.

Source:CIE Automotive

CIE Pemsa Norte, a key production plant under the CIE group, focuses on stamping processes. To meet increasing demands for precision and efficiency, the plant aimed to modernize its inspection capabilities—particularly for stamped sheet metal parts, which are critical to structural integrity and final assembly quality.

Features of the Stamping Part to Be Inspected

The main objective is to measure multiple stamping sheets and improve the yield and productivity. These parts are often thin, intricately shaped, and feature multiple holes, edges, and geometries that must be tightly controlled. Given their structural role and the precision required during final vehicle assembly, even minor deviations in geometry can result in assembly difficulties, vibrations, or long-term durability issues.

Source:CIE Automotive

Limits of Previous Measurement Methods

Before adopting automated 3D scanning, CIE Pemsa relied heavily on traditional inspection methods such as physical checking fixtures and Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs). While these methods served their purpose, they presented significant limitations in a fast-paced, high-throughput manufacturing environment.

Fixtures were custom-built for each part type, resulting in high costs, large space requirements, and inflexibility. Their manual nature introduced operator-dependent variability, and the inability to capture full 3D data limited their effectiveness for comprehensive inspection. Lengthy setup and measurement times further delayed quality feedback.

CMMs, though known for their accuracy, posed operational constraints such as slow probing speeds, complex programming requirements, and difficulty accessing deep or offset features. Their reliance on skilled technicians and risk of collisions during probing created bottlenecks and extended cycle times—especially for large or complex geometries.

Together, these limitations hindered real-time decision-making and seamless integration with digital manufacturing systems. The lack of speed, flexibility, and full part coverage made it difficult to scale inspection operations or respond promptly to quality deviations.

Automated 3D Solutions

To overcome these challenges, CIE Pemsa Norte implemented an advanced automated scanning solution featuring SCANTECH's cutting-edge 3D technologies. The heart of the system is the TrackScan Sharp-S optical 3D scanning system, a powerful optical 3D scanner utilizing tri-laser scanning technology. Capable of capturing up to 4.8 million measurements/s, it delivers exceptional speed and accuracy—especially for detecting complex geometric features like holes, slots, and edges.

This 3D scanner was integrated with linear guides and controlled by collaborative robots, enabling automated movement and flexible part inspection. The 3D scanner operates safely at a 30–40 cm distance, minimizing collision risk and ensuring a safer workspace for operators. Safety is further reinforced with zone sensors that restrict access during operation.

The system is further enhanced with 3D Infotech's software suite:

• Part-ID software uses high-resolution cameras to identify and validate part orientation before scanning.
• Streamline automation software synchronizes robot movement, scanner operation, and linear guide positions.
• Once scanning is complete, the collected point cloud is converted into a mesh and analyzed using PolyWorks, which automatically extracts GD&T dimensions and compares them to CAD models. Final reports are generated in PDF and CSV formats for immediate use.

The combination of these technologies creates a fully automated, intelligent inspection system aligned with Industry 4.0 principles.

Benefits of the 3D Scanning Solution

The implementation of automated 3D solution has delivered numerous benefits to CIE Pemsa Norte:

• Reduced inspection time by 40–70%, significantly improving throughput.
• Eliminated human error in part identification and placement.
• Enhanced measurement accuracy, even on complex stamped geometries.
• Lower operational costs, as minimal operator intervention is needed once the system is calibrated.
• Real-time quality feedback, enabling immediate corrective actions and enhanced process stability.
• Flexible part handling, as the system can quickly switch between different part types without physical fixture changes.

Moreover, the fully digitized inspection process supports better traceability, easier integration into digital manufacturing systems, and data-driven quality improvement.

Conclusion

By adopting SCANTECH's advanced 3D scanning and automation technologies, CIE Pemsa Norte has transformed its inspection process from a labor-intensive, fixture-dependent workflow into a fast, accurate, and digitalized operation. The solution addresses key industry challenges—reducing costs, increasing productivity, and supporting smarter decision-making.

As the automotive sector pushes toward greater efficiency and digital integration, innovative metrology solutions like those provided by SCANTECH will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of manufacturing. The successful deployment at CIE Pemsa Norte sets a benchmark for what's possible when advanced 3D technology meets the real-world needs of industrial production.