DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

FARO Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “FARO,” the “Company,” “us,” “we” or “our”) is a global technology company that designs, develops, manufactures, markets and supports software driven, three-dimensional (“3D”) measurement, imaging and realization systems. This technology permits high-precision 3D measurement, imaging and comparison of parts and complex structures within production and quality assurance processes. Our devices are used for inspection of components and assemblies, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, documenting large volume or structures in 3D, surveying and construction, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes. We sell the majority of our products through a direct sales force across a broad number of customers in a range of manufacturing, industrial, architecture, surveying, building information modeling, construction, public safety forensics, cultural heritage and other applications. Our FaroArm^®, FARO Laser ScanArm^®, FARO Gage^®, FARO Laser Tracker^TM, FARO Laser Projector, FARO Cobalt Array Imager, and their companion CAM2^® and BuildIT software solutions, provide for Computer-Aided Design (“CAD”) based inspection, factory-level statistical process control, high-density surveying and laser-guided assembly and production. Together, these products integrate the measurement, quality inspection, and reverse engineering functions with CAD and 3D software to improve productivity, enhance product quality, and decrease rework and scrap in the manufacturing process, mainly supporting applications in our Factory Metrology vertical. Our FARO Focus and FARO Scanner Freestyle^3DX laser scanners, and their companion SCENE, FARO PointSense, and FARO public safety forensics software offerings, are utilized for a wide variety of 3D modeling, documentation and high-density surveying applications in our Construction Building Information Modeling-Construction Information Management (“Construction BIM-CIM”) and Public Safety Forensics verticals. Our FARO Laser ScanArm^®, FARO Cobalt Array Imager, FARO Scanner Freestyle^3DX laser scanners and their companion SCENE software also enable a fully digital workflow used to capture real world geometry for the purpose of empowering design, enabling innovation, and speeding up the design cycle, supporting our Product Design vertical. FARO Visual Inspect^TM enables large, complex 3D CAD data to be transferred to a tablet device and then used for mobile visualization and comparison to real world conditions, facilitating in-process inspection, assembly, guidance and positioning for applications in our Factory Metrology and Construction BIM-CIM verticals. Our line of galvanometer-based scan heads and laser scan controllers are used in a variety of laser applications and are integrated into larger components and systems.

We report our segment information in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280, Segment Reporting (“FASB ASC Topic 280”). During fiscal 2016, we evaluated our reportable segments based on our new internal management structure organized around operating activities and the changes implemented in connection with our initiatives to reorganize our business around certain vertical markets. We evaluate business performance based upon several metrics, using revenue growth and segment profit as the primary financial measures. As a result of this assessment, we now report our activities in the following three reportable segments:

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The Factory Metrology reporting segment provides solutions for manual and automated measurement and inspection in an industrial or manufacturing environment. Applications include alignment, part inspection, dimensional analysis, first article inspection, incoming and in-process inspection, machine calibration, non-contact inspection, robot calibration, tool building and set-up, and assembly guidance.

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The Construction BIM-CIM reporting segment provides solutions for as-built data capturing and 3D visualization in building information modeling and construction information management applications, allowing our customers in the architecture, engineering and construction markets to quickly and accurately extract two-dimensional (“2D”) and 3D measurement points. Applications include as-built documentation, construction monitoring, surveying, asset and facility management, and heritage preservation.

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The Other reporting segment includes our Product Design, Public Safety Forensics and 3D Machine Vision (formerly known as 3D Solutions) operating segments. Our Product Design operating segment provides advanced 3D solutions to assist in the engineering or design of a movable object, enabling a full digital workflow for applications that include reverse engineering and virtual simulation. Our Public Safety Forensics operating segment provides solutions to public safety officials and professionals to capture environmental or situational scenes in 2D and 3D for crime, crash and fire scene investigations and environmental safety evaluations. Our 3D Machine Vision operating segment provides solutions to customers who require customized 3D measurement and realization solutions not otherwise addressed by our off-the-shelf product offerings.

All operating segments that do not meet the criteria to be reportable segments are aggregated in the Other reporting segment and have been combined based on the aggregation criteria and quantitative thresholds in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 280. There has been no change in our total consolidated financial condition or results of operations previously reported as a result of the change in our reportable segments. The amounts related to our segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 have been restated throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to reflect the change in reporting segments. Each of our reporting segments employs consistent accounting policies. See Note 15 – Segment Reporting for further information.