TODAY'S AUTOMATED PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES HIGH-PRODUCTION RATE WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY ASSURANCE. THIS NEED MAY BE ADDRESSED BY UTILIZING IMAGING TECHNOLOGY TO PERFORM IN-PROCESS GAGING, SORTING, AND ORIENTATION OF COMPONENT PRODUCT PARTS. SIGNATURES DERIVED FROM IMAGING IN CONJUNCTION WITH FAST EXECUTABLE ALGORITHMS ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING HIGH REAL TIME PRODUCTION RATES WHILE MAINTAINING INTELLIGENCE RESOLUTIONS NECESSARY FOR PART IDENTIFICATION AND GAGING. INTELLIGENT ALGORITHMS WITH A MINIMUM OF DATA MANIPULATION, ARE ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVING USABLE PRODUCTION RATES WITH A SYSTEM COST THAT CAN BE JUSTIFIED. INTEGRATION OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS INTO A PART- RECOGNITION SYSTEM WILL BE DISCUSSED.