| WATS.com Availability - User Level: | Operator, Analyzer, Manager |
Manual Inspection test sequences are created and configured in Control Panel → Production Manager. For details about sequence setup, including configuration options such as repair handling, subunit display, and step properties, see the article on Creating and Managing Manual Inspection Sequences.
Starting Test Execution
To execute a Manual Inspection sequence, open the Operator Interface module. Ensure that the Operator Interface is configured to look for the correct sequence status by navigating to:
Operator Interface → Configuration → Advanced configuration → Sequence status
Once a unit is scanned and checked in, select Manual Inspection from the menu.
Filling Out the Test Header
After selecting a sequence, the Header tab opens. This is where you enter information about subunits, miscellaneous parameters, and repair operations before starting the test.
Subunits
- If MES is enabled: The subunit grid automatically lists the associated subunits. Operators only need to provide serial numbers, which are validated during check-in.
- If MES is disabled but Product is enabled: Subunits can be added manually, but must exist in Product Manager. The Part number field includes a filtered dropdown.
- If both MES and Product are disabled: Subunits can be added freely, without validation.
Miscellaneous Info
Contains additional parameters relevant to the test or repair process. Each value is validated automatically against its defined limit or pattern.
Repair Operation
If no fixed repair operation was defined in the sequence, the operator can select one manually. Choosing a repair operation may also load additional Misc Info fields associated with it. Read more about how to configure requirements and restrictions for repair operations in this article.
Comments
Two comment fields are available — UUT and UUR — for storing optional notes attached to the respective report headers.
Start Test
After entering the required information, click Start Test to unlock the sequence for execution. The data is stored automatically, and you can return to the Header tab at any time to modify it.
Executing the Test Sequence
After clicking Start Test, the view switches to the Step tab.
Each test step may include:
- A comment field
- An image uploader (optional, required, or disabled — depending on sequence design)
- A set of instructions displayed in the panel on the right
Supported Step Types
Numeric Limit
Accepts a numeric input validated against upper and lower limits. Press Enter to confirm and continue.
String Value
Accepts a text input validated against a static or regex-based rule. Press Enter to confirm and continue.
Pass/Fail
Displays Pass and Fail buttons. Pressing Enter defaults to Pass.
Wait
Starts a countdown when activated. The timer continues even if the user navigates away.
Set Unit Process
Displays a Confirm button used to apply process changes (e.g., switching between test or repair modes).
Attach File
Allows uploading attachments of predefined types. Once uploaded, the step completes automatically.
Message Box
Display messages with one or more option buttons.
Add subunit
Allows to add Sub units to the report for later analysis and traceability.
When all steps are complete, the Submit button becomes available. If a step fails, additional repair actions may be required before submission.
Handling Failures
If a step fails and the sequence is configured to allow repairs, the repair grid appears, enabling inline repair. This process automatically generates a UUR report upon submission.
Repair Table Fields
- Unit: Select the affected subunit or the main unit.
- Category / Code: Choose from predefined categories linked to the selected repair operation.
- Component Reference: Specify the component ID or reference related to the failure.
- Comment: Add optional text describing the issue.
- Attachments: Upload or capture up to three images or documents.
Available Actions
Submit
Finalizes and submits the report. Enabled when all steps are completed or when the sequence configuration allows submission after a failure.
Save Draft
Saves progress without submitting the sequence.
Delete
Deletes the current test instance, including any entered data. The test sequence definition remains unaffected.
Pass All
Marks all eligible steps as passed, depending on whether the step configuration allows it.
Comments
5 comments
Hi,
What is the procedure for displaying a specific page of a PDF document within a Manual Inspection sequence ?
Where the PDF document has to be saved :
> on the cloud ?
> on a local network ?
> on the PC using Operator mode in a web browser ?
Hi Jean-Louis,
Currently we support storage/access of Manual Inspection media files to a web location where anonymous access is allowed.
As of version 2016.2 we also support UNC locations (where the UNC path must be accessible from the WATS server), as well as locations which are password protected. In the Sequence Designer, credentials must be defined in the sequence/step where you have set the “MediaUrl” property referring to the password protected location.
If you want to display a PDF, you can set the “MediaUrl” property with an web address to the PDF file. This can be set on any sequence/step, but usually this is set in the “root” sequence if only one PDF file is displayed during the test. The “MediaUrl” is inheritable, so that any sub sequence or step also uses the same URL - but can refer to different pages/sentences in the PDF. More information on this topic is available in our In-App Help documentation: WATS Control Panel -> Manual Inspection Manager -> Sequence Designer.
Hi,
Does the barcode identifiers also work by scanning the sub-unit within the sequence of a manual inspection?
Because our qr codes containing always several information and not the serial number only.
Thanks
Hi Kevin, provided that the barcode scanner is set up correctly, yes.
First you need to configure the scanner in the OI configuration: https://support.virinco.com/hc/en-us/articles/13991633116060-Configuring-your-barcode-scanners-in-WATS
Then set up barcode identifiers for your different barcode formats. These include information on what part of the barcode is SN, PN, REV, BATCH or Process.
https://support.virinco.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017446159-Extract-serial-number-when-scanning-with-barcode-identifiers
Dear Ola
Many thanks for this fast reply and suggested solution.
I'll have a look into the barcode scanner settings.
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