The process of working in 3D can improve quality in several ways. During the design phase, 3D allows for all elements of a project to interact as they will in the real world. Mating parts, tolerances, and potential interferences can all be analyzed and accurately quantified within the computer in 3D space. This eliminates much of the guesswork and referencing that happens in the 2D world. Following the fabrication of new equipment, those parts/assemblies can then be laser-scanned, modeled in 3D and then directly compared to the original design model – all in 3D. Any deviation is clearly visible and measurable on-screen. Current software packages will generate alerts when tolerances are not met, all of which can be dealt with quickly at the shop. During the installation phase, 3D can then be used again to quantify the accuracy of the installation. If a tolerance is not being met, it can be fixed in real-time before the issue propagates down the line and creates larger problems downstream.