This paper describes the industrial applications, rather than the detailed description of methods such as Rietveld analysis, which is covered in great detail by Aranda et al. (2012, this volume). Different systems and software packages are available and in use.

X-ray analysis of polycrystalline powder samples has grown beyond its roots in the world of laboratory research and is regarded as one of the most powerful industrial process-control tools in the field of building materials and minerals. This is the key to characterize the element and the phase composition of the material.