The End of the FSC: Why the Future of Metrology is Model-Driven

The Function Select Code (FSC) was a masterpiece of its time, allowing technicians to create fully functional automated calibration procedures without having to know the exact commands required to control the specific instruments used in the calibration.

But that was then, and this is now. Forty years later, the technological landscape has shifted entirely. In an era of multi-core processors, cloud-native environments, and complex software-defined instruments, these legacy methods are no longer just “old”—they are actively holding your lab back.

Evolving Beyond the Legacy

The FSC was a great solution for faster programming for many years. However, modern calibration labs require total flexibility to keep up with today’s fast-moving economy. The legacy FSC model was built around specific instrument lock-in—forcing your procedures to depend on exact hardware models. This rigidity makes your lab vulnerable to supply chain shifts and vendor price hikes, preventing you from adapting as instrument complexity continues to explode.

The Metrology Trifecta: Better, Cheaper, and Faster

In traditional engineering, they say you can only pick two: Better, Cheaper, or Faster. Metrology.NET’s Model Driven Software approach breaks that rule by drastically reducing the amount of code you have to write, which directly translates to saved time and money:

• BETTER: High-precision results without the high-cost labor. By using a robust software/measurement model, the system automatically handles complexity. You get high-quality results because the model is built into the code.
• CHEAPER: Significant reduction in engineering and software development hours because engineers are writing far less code.
• FASTER: Less code means faster deployment. Our “Build it once, use it everywhere” architecture lets you deploy new procedures in a fraction of the time. Your team generates revenue through active calibrations instead of writing code.

Built by Software Architects, Not Just Technicians

Metrology.NET wasn’t built in a vacuum. It was architected by Michael Schwartz and the team at Cal Lab Solutions—the same experts who built a global business around developing the most advanced MET/CAL® procedures ever written.

We didn’t just see the limitations of the FSC; we lived them. We knew that “fixing” the old system wasn’t enough. To meet the security and efficiency demands of modern industry, we had to replace the legacy mentality with a Model-Driven Software Architecture.

The Model-Driven Mentality: Industry-Leading Technology

Metrology.NET is built on a “Model-Based” method. Think of it as having flexible standards mixed with a flexible Unit Under Test (UUT) simultaneously.

1. Flexible Standards:
   Instead of coding for a specific model number, you code for the capability. You can swap your lab standards in real-time without ever touching the core procedure logic.
2. Flexible UUT: Models handle the variations. Whether you are testing a legacy analog meter or a modern digital analyzer, the software model adapts the test points automatically based on the device’s specific test definition.
3. Build It Once, Use It Everywhere:
   This is the ultimate efficiency. A single procedure created in Metrology.NET works across any lab configuration, any set of standards, and any LIMS integration.

Built to Connect, Not to Isolate

While other solutions are moving toward “walled gardens” and specific manufacturer lock-ins, Metrology.NET was designed from the ground up to be an integration-first solution.

• Hardware Freedom: We support several hardware manufacturers out of the box. We don’t care whose logo is on the front of the box; we care about the measurement.
• Proven Integrations: Metrology.NET is already integrated with other industry-leading MET/CAL experts like OnTime Support and their Metrology Explorer product.
• Data Sovereignty: We provide the freedom to run on-premise, in a private cloud, or in a hybrid environment. Your data stays under your control, meeting the strictest security requirements of Defense and Aerospace labs.

Ready to move beyond the FSC?

The idea of the FSC served us well for years, but the era of hard-coded hardware is over. Join the leading laboratories that have already moved away from MET/CAL into a future of modular, model-driven automation that is Better, Cheaper, and Faster.

Stop wasting your time rewriting procedures in outdated technologies. Start automating.

Questions? Email sales@callabsolutions.com or call +1 (303) 317-6670 (MST-Denver, Colorado).