From the very beginning of their use, the power of coordinate measuring machines to become integrated closer into the production process has been recognized. Quality control is about more than just double-checking that parts have the correct dimensions. Defects have to be traced back to the production line to determine which tool is the source of the error, at which point it can be fixed, verified, and put back into action without leading to further wasted time and materials. In the past, the long throughput of quality control departments delayed that flexibility. First, components had to be temperature controlled before they could be accurately measured away from the shop floor. Then, reams of data had to be analyzed in order to find relevant dimensions and flaws could be discovered. Finally, tools had to be inspected by measurements technicians to get them back online.
