Product Q&A: trends and developments in metrology

Metrology is an often-overlooked part of industrial production, but it facilitates both the precision and safety associated with modern manufacturing. Advances in measurement can not only drive efficiencies, they can also help underpin new advanced manufacturing techniques, helping incorporate automation into factory lines. The Engineer caught up with three leading experts in metrology to find out the latest developments in their fields.

Paul Maxted - Director of Industrial Metrology Applications, Renishaw

Mark Youings - MD, Tinius Olsen

Martin Hawkins - UK Sales Director, Bowers Group

PM: We are seeing an increased requirement for automation of both processes and decision making in the factory, where the availability of actionable data near to the point of manufacture is essential. Measurements are being made at every stage of the manufacturing process chain to reduce or compensate for sources of variation without the delays associated with remote final verification. Metrology assisted closed loop manufacturing is now accepted as a key enabler towards highly productive automated manufacturing. Moving metrology to the shopfloor is improving productivity, reducing costs and reducing the reliance on skilled people to make decisions and maintain process quality.