A method for determining the positional laydown accuracy of an automated lamination machine during fabrication of a single or multiple layered part, said method comprising: measuring, using at least one positioning device, a position of a placement head of the lamination machine in a first coordinate system; characterized by: defining a mounting position of a plurality of laser tracking devices with respect to the placement head of the lamination machine; receiving distances between the placement head and each respective laser tracking device; and correlating the distances received from the laser tracking devices with their mounting positions to determine a position of the placement head; determining a location of a ply edge with respect to the placement head using a machine based vision system, the position of which is known with respect to the placement head; transforming the location of the ply edge into the first coordinate system, based on the measured head position; transforming the location of the ply edge from the first coordinate system into a second coordinate system that is associated with the part being fabricated; and comparing actual ply edge location in the second coordinate system to an expected ply edge location defined in the second coordinate system to determine the laydown accuracy of the machine. measuring, using at least one positioning device, a position of a placement head of the lamination machine in a first coordinate system; characterized by: defining a mounting position of a plurality of laser tracking devices with respect to the placement head of the lamination machine; receiving distances between the placement head and each respective laser tracking device; and correlating the distances received from the laser tracking devices with their mounting positions to determine a position of the placement head; determining a location of a ply edge with respect to the placement head using a machine based vision system, the position of which is known with respect to the placement head; transforming the location of the ply edge into the first coordinate system, based on the measured head position; transforming the location of the ply edge from the first coordinate system into a second coordinate system that is associated with the part being fabricated; and comparing actual ply edge location in the second coordinate system to an expected ply edge location defined in the second coordinate system to determine the laydown accuracy of the machine. defining a mounting position of a plurality of laser tracking devices with respect to the placement head of the lamination machine; receiving distances between the placement head and each respective laser tracking device; and correlating the distances received from the laser tracking devices with their mounting positions to determine a position of the placement head; determining a location of a ply edge with respect to the placement head using a machine based vision system, the position of which is known with respect to the placement head; transforming the location of the ply edge into the first coordinate system, based on the measured head position; transforming the location of the ply edge from the first coordinate system into a second coordinate system that is associated with the part being fabricated; and comparing actual ply edge location in the second coordinate system to an expected ply edge location defined in the second coordinate system to determine the laydown accuracy of the machine.