Cognex Corp. engages in the provision of machine vision products and solutions that improve efficiency and quality in a wide range of businesses across attractive industrial end markets. The company is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts and currently employs 2,745 full-time employees. The firm operates through the machine vision technology segment. Its solutions blend hardware and software to capture and analyze visual information, aiding the automation of manufacturing and distribution tasks for customers worldwide. Machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing and distribution of discrete items, such as mobile phones, automotive components, and consumer goods, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. Machine vision is important for applications in which human vision is inadequate to meet requirements for size, accuracy, or speed, or in instances where substantial cost savings or quality improvements are maintained.