Porsche, Daimler, Honda and Audi have one thing in common when it comes to the production processes in their factories--the use of reverse engineering faro. These automobile manufacturers are however not the only companies that make use of this technology from faro.

The Faro measurement systems are widely used, with an estimated user base of 10,000 customers all over the world. The term reverse engineering might remind one of espionage thanks to movies that have tackled the uses of reverse engineering to closely study the workings of ammunition and devices for military advantage. While it is true that reverse engineering is used for spying not only in the military but also for commercial purposes, that’s perhaps the more glamorous character of this process.

In reality, this is the process used to analyze in detail the workings of a system or a device. In the case of reverse engineering faro, it has something to do with the detailed analysis on the operation and function of software programs and company components. It is actually used for more practical reasons by companies that can not get their hands on software documentation, or they may have them but the documentation is incomplete or lacking.

Reverse engineering faro may be too complex for the laymen but to make it more palatable, think of it as the process of going back to allow the human mind to understand the development cycle of software or a machine. This process is only meant for examination purposes only, and does not include modification of the software.

There are actually several reasons why reverse engineering faro is used including but not limited to:

• Software does not have a source code

• There is a source code but lacks proper documentation

• Measurement of prototypes and devices

• Recreation of missing prehistoric parts

Reverse engineering faro is commonly used in the first case, when the software does not have a source code, but the concept can actually be used in a variety of industries. Take for example the reconstruction of some skeletal parts of a dinosaur displayed at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. However, there should always be a diligent effort to avoid infringement of copyright when implementing the process.

Faro, a Nasdaq-listed company, has made available 3D measuring devices for companies that require reverse engineering for inventory documentation, historical site digital scanning, production planning and for the inspection of components and their assemblies.

A company that requires the verification or setting-up of systems, components and other measuring tasks can get a helping hand from reverse engineering faro at anytime.