Hexagon’s leads the charge this World Metrology Month

Every May, the global measurement community marks World Metrology Day, commemorating the signing of the Metre Convention in Paris on 20 May 1875 — the treaty that gave the world a shared language of measurement. A century and a half later, its founding idea, that progress depends on the ability to measure accurately and consistently, matters more than ever.

The manufacturing landscape is evolving rapidly, and Hexagon’s Stationary division sits at the forefront of this transformation. As industries shift from end-of-line inspection to integrated, in-process metrology, quality is no longer simply a matter of compliance; it has become a critical lever for productivity. With the rise of electric vehicles, advanced materials, ever-tighter tolerances, and relentless cost pressure, manufacturers face unprecedented complexity. To stay competitive, they need faster feedback loops that support near-real-time decision-making.

Hexagon’s Stationary division meets these challenges by connecting hardware, software, and data into a single, seamless workflow. The message is clear: metrology is no longer a downstream gatekeeper but an integral part of the value-creation chain.

What World Metrology Month represents

This year, World Metrology Month is a celebration of transformation. It highlights the shift from traditional measurement to manufacturing intelligence, positioning stationary metrology as production-critical infrastructure rather than a final checkpoint. Hexagon is showcasing its ability to scale from laboratory-grade precision to shop-floor impact, reinforcing its role as an end-to-end partner, from sensors to software, and from raw data to insight and action. For manufacturers, the practical takeaway is significant: the same measurement that confirms a part is good can now be used to keep the entire process good, turning quality data into a continuous source of competitive advantage.

Spotlight on MAESTRO: The orchestration layer

At the heart of Hexagon’s innovation is MAESTRO, the orchestration layer that connects the entire metrology ecosystem. MAESTRO brings together measurement hardware, inspection software, automation workflows, and data analytics to deliver standardised, repeatable, and fully automated inspection processes.

Key benefits of MAESTRO include:

• Reducing dependency on expert users, so quality is no longer limited by specialist availability
• Scaling consistent quality across multiple lines and sites
• Shortening the time from measurement to actionable decision

Strategically, MAESTRO marks a shift from isolated measurements to orchestrated metrology workflows. This includes everything from simple data collection to actionable insights, all delivered in a live production context.

From measuring to smart manufacturing

Hexagon’s Stationary division is driving the transition from simple measurement to smarter manufacturing. By embedding metrology directly into production loops, Hexagon enables closed-loop manufacturing. This is where measurement continuously informs feedback and process adjustments in real time.

This approach replaces traditional spot-check sampling with smarter, full-coverage solutions. The focus then moves from reactive quality control to predictive and preventive quality strategies. Typical use cases include automated inspection cells, inline and nearline integration, and centralised data platforms that span entire plants. The business impact is profound: less scrap, higher throughput, faster production ramp-ups, and more stable, predictable processes. Crucially, these gains compound: as more measurement is captured and connected, the feedback loops grow tighter. The system then gets smarter over time.

Real-world success: The Fratelli Musarra story

Nowhere is this shift clearer than on the factory floor. Fratelli Musarra uses Hexagon CMMs to integrate dimensional inspection directly into its high-volume production of precision components for hydraulic pumps. The process ensures that every part meets extremely tight geometric tolerances under demanding operating conditions.

By combining inline measurement systems such as TIGO with advanced CMM solutions orchestrated by MAESTRO, the company now validates 100% of its parts. This is a significant change from the previous process of relying on sampling. The addition of MAESTRO has cut measurement cycle times from roughly eight minutes to around two to two-and-a-half minutes. At the same time, high-speed scanning and detailed analysis give engineers far deeper insight into deviations.

The result captures the core value of Hexagon’s approach. Fast, automated, data-rich quality control that lifts productivity supports immediate decision-making, and sustains stable processes and consistent product quality at scale.

Measuring what matters

As the world celebrates the discipline that underpins modern industry, Hexagon’s Stationary division offers a compelling vision of where metrology is heading. Measurement is no longer the last step before a part leaves the building; it is the intelligence that guides production from the very first cut. This World Metrology Month, the message from Hexagon is simple: when you measure smarter, you manufacture better.