Purpose: This paper aims to promote the integration of the relative position accuracy (RPA) measurement and evaluation in digital assembly process by adopting the model-based method. An integrated framework for RPA measurement is proposed based on a model-based definition (MBD) data set. The study also aims to promote the efficiency of inspection planning of RPA measurement by improving the reusability and configurability of the inspection planning. Design/methodology/approach: The works have been carried out on three layers. In the data layer, an extended MBD data set is constructed to describe the objects and data for defining RPA measurement items; In definition layer, a model based and hierarchical structure for RPA item definition is constructed to support quick definition for RPA measurement items. In function layer, a toolset consisting three modules is constructed in a sequence from measurement planning to RPA value solving to visualized displaying again. Based on this framework, a prototype system is developed. Findings: The paper provides an identified practice of model-based inspection. It suggests that MBD is valuable in promoting both the integration and efficiency of digital inspection. Research limitations/implications: The templates and constructed geometry objects given in this paper are still limited in a scenario of aircraft assembly. The integrity and universality of them still need follow-up works. Practical implications: The paper includes implications for the model based digital inspection, the digital assembly and the extended application of MBD. Originality/value: This paper expands the application of MBD in inspection and fulfils the need to promote the integration and efficiency of digital inspection in large-scale component assembly.

Inspection plays an important role in quality control and trust of manufacturing service in the cloud manufacturing (CMfg) paradigm. To provide an inspection service for complex mechanical parts in CMfg, the concept of cloud inspection was defined as a multi-dimension extension of CMfg. A framework of cloud inspection consisting of the physical resource layer, the cloud inspection platform, and the application layer was constructed. The data model of cloud inspection, including the role model, resource model, and business model was constructed. Besides, a 4-phrase process model was built by integrating digital inspection technology into the cloud manufacturing environment. Inspection resources including hardware resources, software resources, and knowledge resources were connected to the cloud inspection platform. A four-level model was proposed for the encapsulation of inspection services. Enable toolsets for cloud inspection of complex mechanical parts, including the inspection planning toolset, measurement programming toolset, inspection process monitor toolset, and data analysis toolset were encapsulated. A prototype system was developed. A case study was given to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed framework. The framework for cloud inspection provides a solution for the inspection business of mechanical parts in CMfg.