Cataloging system for recording manufacture anomaly data related to type, severity, and position with a wireless probe

A method for recording and tracking one or both of manufacturing anomalies and inconsistencies that accrue through use with respect to a part, manufacturing anomalies and such inconsistencies collectively referred to as anomalies, said method comprising:

• visually verifying that an anomaly exists within a part;
• touching a tip of a probe to the anomaly;
• operating the probe to uniquely identify the anomaly by selecting one of a plurality of anomaly types displayed by the probe;
• determining a position of the probe tip at a point where the part was touched by the probe tip;
• and
• storing the uniquely identified anomaly with the determined probe tip position.

A handheld probe for an anomaly detection and cataloging system, said probe comprising:

• a probe tip;
• a user interface comprising a display and at least one user input device, said user interface configured to display, via said display, a plurality of manufacturing anomaly types, and to receive, via said at least one user input device, a user selection of one of the plurality of manufacturing anomaly types;
• a communications interface configured to transmit data indicative of the user selected manufacturing anomaly type to an external device;
• and
• a transmitter that sends location data associated with a location of a detected anomaly, wherein the location of the detected anomaly is based on where the probe tip contacts a surface of a part.