In the context of precision mechanics, quality control is no longer a separate moment from the production process.
It is becoming, increasingly, an integrated component of the processing itself.
In-process metrology (third trend 2026) marks a paradigm shift: measuring while producing, rather than verifying after the fact.
An evolution that affects not only the final quality, but the entire production balance — in terms of timing, reliability and risk management.
Real-time quality control: a change of perspective
Integrating the measure directly into the production cycle means intervening when the value is generated, not when the piece has already been completed.
We asked Samuele Bonaccini, CEO of MABO:
“Integrating measurement directly into the production cycle radically changes quality control: what concrete advantages does it bring in terms of reliability and time?”
“Measuring while producing changes everything: no part displacement, fewer errors, less variability.
And above all, problems are discovered immediately, not after dozens of pieces. Times are also significantly reduced: the machine compensates for itself and starts become faster and more stable.”
The advantage is twofold:
on the one hand, variability is reduced, eliminating intermediate steps
on the other hand, immediate action is taken on drifts, avoiding the accumulation of errors
Quality stops being a control and becomes an active function of the process.
From final control to continuous stabilization
When the measure enters the production cycle, its meaning also changes.
It is no longer a verification tool, but an element that contributes directly to stability.
We have explored this aspect in more detail:
“How does the concept of dimensional control evolve when it becomes an integral part of the process and not a final step?”
“It is no longer a final control: it becomes a tool that stabilizes the process as it works.
Ensures consistent quality throughout production, not just at the end.”
This step is central:
quality is no longer “certified” at the end, but built piece by piece, throughout the cycle.
The result is greater production consistency and a significant reduction in rework.
Transparency and trust in the industrial relationship
The impact of integrated metrology does not stop at the technical level.
It also affects the customer-supplier relationship, which is increasingly based on data and reliability.
We then asked:
“How does this evolution affect the relationship of trust between customer and supplier?”
“The in-process measure increases transparency. The data is continuous, the process is predictable, the risks decrease.
This builds trust and turns the relationship into a true partnership.”
When the process is continuously monitored and data is available, the relationship changes nature:
less uncertainty
greater predictability
more mutual trust
Quality becomes a shared terrain, not an element to be verified after the fact.
A new culture of quality
Integrated metrology represents one of the most significant steps in the evolution of precision manufacturing.
It not only introduces a technology, but a new way of understanding the production process.
For realities like MABO, it means adopting an approach where:
the measure is part of the process
the control is continuous
quality is built, not verified
In this scenario, the goal is not simply to produce compliant parts, but to ensure stable, predictable, and reliable processes over time.
Because in precision mechanics, quality is not an end result.
It’s a process that has to work, always.
