Derby-based AddQual is marking National Manufacturing Day 2025 by shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked discipline of production metrology — and how its approach is helping manufacturers achieve the holy grail of speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in inspection. As UK manufacturing looks to maintain its global competitiveness, inspection has become a critical pinch point.
Traditional methods, while precise, are frequently slow, resource-intensive and vulnerable to inconsistencies in human interpretation. For safety-critical sectors such as aerospace, defence and energy, these delays can disrupt production schedules and increase costs — undermining competitiveness at home and abroad. AddQual, however, is proving that inspection doesn’t need to be a bottleneck. By integrating automated dimensional metrology systems into production, the company is enabling customers to qualify parts faster, more accurately, and more cost-effectively than ever before.“ In production, every minute counts,” says Ben Anderson, Managing Director of AddQual.
“Our automated processes can often deliver 24-hour turnaround on production parts — without compromising accuracy. That gives manufacturers the confidence to scale, meet tight deadlines, and stay competitive.”At the heart of AddQual’s model is what it calls the “metrology trifecta” — a blend of three outcomes manufacturers demand most.
Speed: Automated inspection accelerates turnaround times, helping customers keep production lines moving.
Accuracy: Using advanced 3D structured light metrology within NADCAP-accredited and AS9100-approved processes, AddQual ensures data-driven, traceable results.
Cost-effectiveness: By minimising scrap, reducing rework, and enabling faster corrective action, the company saves customers both time and money.
“Accuracy is non-negotiable, especially when dealing with safety-critical components,” Anderson explains. “By combining robust data with automation, we remove subjectivity and provide the confidence customers need to release parts into production.
”Beyond its technical capability, AddQual’s outsourced model gives manufacturers access to cutting-edge inspection services without the need for heavy capital investment in equipment or specialist training. That model is particularly attractive in an environment where supply chain resilience and agility are paramount.Anderson believes this approach is not just about solving today’s challenges but also about preparing UK industry for the future:
“Its more than metrology— we’re providing a strategic process advantage. By enabling customers to qualify their parts faster, more accurately, and more cost-effectively, we’re helping them strengthen their competitiveness on the global stage.” As the UK celebrates National Manufacturing Day 2025, AddQual’s story demonstrates how innovation in critical processes like inspection can give manufacturers an edge. In a world where productivity, compliance, and sustainability are under constant scrutiny, the company’s model points to a future where inspection becomes a driver of competitiveness rather than a barrier. For AddQual, the message is simple: quality and speed are no longer trade-offs — they’re twin enablers of growth.
