Back in 2016, the PrecisionPath Consortium (PPC), in cooperation with the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and UNC Charlotte, conducted the very first industry survey in support of their lead project—the Technology Roadmap for Large-Scale Manufacturing. 3D measurement professionals answered questions about usage scenarios, workforce issues, existing technology capabilities and requirements, as well as anticipated future needs, for portable metrology systems in support of large-scale precision manufacturing (LPM). These valuable insights were captured in a 70-page roadmap that covered the scope and potential of the next-generation data-driven factory, and the evolution of measurement technologies needed to support advanced manufacturing moving forward.

In 2020, the PPC and CMS are joining forces again to launch a new survey of the industry at large, sweeping the full metrology landscape. The study examines the principal factors affecting measurement professionals today. Managers and practitioners are asked to share their perspectives on career requirements, technology usage, workforce and education trends, job challenges, and the anticipated support needed to move the industry forward. Serving in diverse industrial and scientific markets, metrologists are users of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), laser scanners, laser trackers, portable arms, and inspections software.

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