The impact of smart factory on dimensional metrology market

The global dimensional metrology market caters to end-user industries such as automotive, aerospace & defence, medical, and electronics. This market is dominated by well-established global participants with signature products. The traditional value of preposition of these products is slowly diminishing with all major manufacturers emerging with a competitive solution. These solutions have little or no difference with regards to their product offering.  Such state of technological saturation has significantly impacted the dynamics of dimensional metrology market. Therefore, dimensional metrology manufacturers are required to be conscious of the on-going changes, including an insight into current needs and develop strategic plan into the future of the dimensional metrology market. This will be crucial to ensure market leadership, sustenance, and growth in the following years. At a higher level, it is essential to comprehend the numerous factors that will impact the position of dimensional metrology manufacturers in the market space.

Future roadmap

In current market scenario, it will be fair to conclude that the dimensional metrology market is at a crossroads. During discussions with major market participants, it was observed that the need for dimensional metrology manufacturers to develop strategic roadmap which would help them retain higher profit margins and position in the smart factory revolution.

All major dimensional metrology manufacturers acknowledge the fact that the metrology product portfolio is attaining a position of saturation, either directly or indirectly. A major development that supports this opinion is the narrowing of product among coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), optical scanners, and vision based metrology product lines. Leading companies have currently emerged with hybrid products that combine CMMs and optical scanners functionality, as a means to counter high precision, high competition, and gain end-user recognition. Despite economic advantages, emergence of such products has clouded end-user perception to a very large extent. It remains to be seen if this technical strategy will yield expected results.

Frost & Sullivan research infers a significant shift from traditional parameters determining the dimensional metrology market. 
Chart 1 provides the emergent vendor determinant diagram, projecting the various spheres of influence that are likely to impact the competitive dynamics of metrology vendors operating in this segment.
In a relative comparison with traditional metrology supplier criteria, it is expected that in the coming years, the importance on the metrology product portfolio is likely to be subdued, while the need for globalised service support coupled with cost factors is expected to gain momentum considerably. Another significant aspect that will influence the future dimensional metrology market is the factor of Mega Trends that is likely to yield a major influence in the evolution of smart factories.

Chart 2 shows Frost & Sullivan’s vision for the dimensional metrology market with respect to smart factories’ revolution, catalysed by five megatrends which will influence all facets of industrial companies. Dimensional metrology equipment operating personnel in smart factories will not be confined to measuring rooms/stations alone. The advent of tablets and mobile platforms will enable them to track measurement data, perform maintenance operation, and monitor quality control process issues from their tablets, on the move.

The implementation of secure cloud computing technology will allow factories access relevant quality process control data from Internet to perform real-time decisions and improve production efficiency. In essence, smart factories will have secure wireless networks supporting a highly automated metrology process, seamlessly interlinked with enterprise software working through the cloud. High-end smart factories will also use application specific metrology products/ technologies from various metrology manufacturers to increase operational excellence and aid sustainability.

The road map

The manufacturing landscape of the future is likely to showcase major challenges that will change the face of almost all industries. The list of challenges includes technological, economic, and social considerations that need well-defined study and analysis. In this critical juncture, metrology vendors will need to have a comprehensive outlook in devising strategies; one that includes tapping of competitive intelligence from multiple facets.

Frost & Sullivan estimates that metrology manufacturers in future need to build expertise in understanding and pre-empting end-user requirements in the smart factories. This will be a strategic prerequisite for ensuring sustenance in the increasingly competitive market of dimensional metrology.

In essence, it can be concluded that the dimensional metrology market is steadily progressing to the next level, offering inline metrology manufacturers several opportunities for growth and excellence. It is thus crucial for dimensional metrology market participants to be in tune with on-going advancements and to develop their capability to participate and thrive in the smart factories.