The UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors contributed £42.2 billion to the economy in 2024, a 64% increase over the past decade, according to new figures from ADS. Employment across the four industries has grown by a third to 443,000, with productivity in aerospace alone rising 71% over ten years.For AddQual Ltd, a Derby-based specialist in advanced dimensional metrology, this data reflects not just sector-wide momentum, but also the growing importance of inspection and quality assurance in enabling manufacturers to meet global demand.
“The UK aerospace sector is operating at a higher output per worker than ever before, and that productivity depends on precision, speed, and reliability,” says Ben Anderson, Managing Director of AddQual. “Our customers face intense pressure to scale operations, hit delivery schedules, and maintain compliance, often all at once.
That’s where we step in.”AddQual’s services are designed around the principle that in modern manufacturing, time is a critical resource. Through automation and integration of dimensional metrology systems, the company delivers autonomous inspection with turnaround times as short as 24 hours.“Every minute counts in production,” Anderson explains. “We’ve invested in automated processes that enable faster qualification of parts without compromising integrity. For aerospace primes and their supply chains, that speed translates directly into an ability to meet programme ramp-ups without bottlenecks.”With aerospace components often safety-critical, precision and traceability are non-negotiable.
AddQual leverages structured light 3D metrology techniques within AS9100-approved and NADCAP-accredited processes, providing data-driven insights that reduce the inconsistencies of manual inspection.“Accuracy isn’t just a technical benchmark; it’s a commercial necessity,” says Anderson.
“The data we provide gives manufacturers confidence that their products are compliant and fit for purpose, which is essential in sectors where one error can have costly consequences.”Inspection is traditionally a source of delay and cost in production environments. AddQual’s model not only speeds up the process but also reduces rework and scrap, delivering tangible savings.“By identifying deviations quickly and accurately, we enable corrective action before problems escalate,” Anderson notes. “That’s cost avoided, time saved, and quality assured. And because we offer this as an outsourced service, our customers access cutting-edge capability without the capital burden of investment in equipment or training.”
The broader sector outlook from ADS underscores the role companies like AddQual play in sustaining the UK’s industrial competitiveness.
With aerospace exports now totalling £45.4 billion and accounting for nearly half of turnover, the need for reliable, scalable quality solutions has never been greater.“AddQual is so much more than a metrology service provider,” Anderson concludes.
“We’re giving manufacturers a strategic advantage—qualifying parts faster, more accurately, and more cost-effectively. In a sector that’s growing in output and global significance, our role is to make sure the UK supply chain remains world-class.
”As the UK government prepares to unveil its Industrial Strategy, the success of agile, innovation-led businesses such as AddQual highlights the potential for advanced manufacturing to underpin both national prosperity and international competitiveness
