A review of smart metrology in industry 4.0 - 5.0: Standards, interoperability, and automation

Dimensional metrology is moving from isolated, post-process inspection to integrated, intelligent measurement within digital manufacturing. In the context of Industry 4.0 and 5.0, smart metrology spans tactile, optical, and hybrid modalities embedded in cyber-physical production environments. Standardized information models such as STEP AP242, QIF, STEP-NC, and OPC UA connect design, manufacturing, and quality assurance to establish an interoperable digital-thread with lifecycle traceability. This review synthesizes recent developments in software and data integration, automation and robotics, and artificial intelligence for metrology, and introduces a structured taxonomy and conceptual framework that clarify how these technologies interact across technical, syntactic, semantic, and organizational layers. It highlights how model-based definition, architectures that combine edge and cloud, and robot-assisted inspection enable real-time, closed-loop quality control. A comparative analysis clarifies the shift from static verification to adaptive measurement networks. Persistent challenges include semantic interoperability across heterogeneous tools, real-time uncertainty evaluation, and trustworthy AI that remains explainable and auditable, alongside human-centric design requirements. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for industrial deployment and a research agenda focused on online uncertainty estimation, interoperable ontologies, digital-twin-driven control, and credible sustainability metrics. Smart metrology is emerging as a cornerstone of resilient and sustainable manufacturing by linking standardized data, automation, and human oversight.