“In manufacturing, it’s often what we can’t see that causes the most problems.” That statement rings especially true for quality assurance professionals, where hidden deviations in surface geometry can make or break performance, safety, and compliance. As parts become smaller, more complex, and increasingly performance-critical, traditional measurement tools are reaching their limits. The solution? A shift from tactile to optical metrology — and with it, from reactive troubleshooting to predictive quality assurance.