A method for analyzing a surface quality of a laminate part , comprising the steps of: creating a planned dimensioned representation of a laminate part desired to be built which includes a first surface having a first topography; placing fibers into locations for the laminate part desired to be built; curing a resin associated with the placed fibers fabricating an as-built laminate part from the planned dimensioned representation of the laminate part desired to be built which includes a second surface having a second topography which corresponds to the first surface having the first topography, wherein said curing further includes scanning the second surface to obtain the second topography of the second surface ; aligning the first surface , the second surface and the locations of the fibers ; determining a first elevation of a first point on the first surface and a second elevation of a second point on the second surface , the first point and second point being at the same location with respect to first surface and second surface , respectively, wherein said determining further includes determining any difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation; observing , and causing to be presented via a display, the first surface , the second surface and the locations of the fibers in alignment and the any difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation in analyzing the surface quality of the laminate part ; and wherein the step of observing further includes a step of altering location of at least one fiber for the laminate part desired to be built in response to a difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation exceeding a tolerance range. creating a planned dimensioned representation of a laminate part desired to be built which includes a first surface having a first topography; placing fibers into locations for the laminate part desired to be built; curing a resin associated with the placed fibers fabricating an as-built laminate part from the planned dimensioned representation of the laminate part desired to be built which includes a second surface having a second topography which corresponds to the first surface having the first topography, wherein said curing further includes scanning the second surface to obtain the second topography of the second surface ; aligning the first surface , the second surface and the locations of the fibers ; determining a first elevation of a first point on the first surface and a second elevation of a second point on the second surface , the first point and second point being at the same location with respect to first surface and second surface , respectively, wherein said determining further includes determining any difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation; observing , and causing to be presented via a display, the first surface , the second surface and the locations of the fibers in alignment and the any difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation in analyzing the surface quality of the laminate part ; and wherein the step of observing further includes a step of altering location of at least one fiber for the laminate part desired to be built in response to a difference in elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation exceeding a tolerance range. <EOS>