Basics of Industrial Metrology

Abstract

As known, cyber-physical systems and ICT technologies in general are the backbone of the fourth industrial revolution (also known as Industry 4.0 in Europe). However, flexibility, efficiency, resilience and, above all, high-quality smart manufacturing could not be achieved without the essential contribution of measurement science. This is supposed to play a key role also for the development of value-centric, fully sustainable organizations envisioned in the forthcoming fifth industrial revolution. The most recent measurement techniques and technologies (e.g., networked and distributed measurement systems, advanced sensing solutions, machine-learning-based diagnostic solutions) supporting process and product monitoring in smart manufacturing companies are essential to reach specified quality targets and/or to ensure compliance with given technical, regulatory or legal requirements. Industrial metrology comprises all organizational and measurement procedures, techniques and technologies that contribute to reach the aforementioned goals, thus improving both customers' satisfaction and company competitiveness. In [1], Savio et al. highlight the strong economic benefits of industrial metrology in four different case studies. In particular, it turns out that, despite relevant initial investments, Internal Return Rates (RRs) ranging between 20% and 44% can be achieved with payback times shorter than three years. A pre-Brexit survey reports that UK companies using measurement standards are twice as likely to export goods compared with companies of the same size that instead make a marginal use of metrology within their processes, with an estimated impact on yearly turnover that ranges from 1.7% to 5.3% [2].