Inspections

Inspections are systematic examinations of materials, products, services, or processes to determine conformance with defined requirements or standards. They aim to identify defects, ensure safety, verify quality, and support regulatory or contractual compliance. Inspections can occur at multiple points in a lifecycle, from raw materials to finished goods, and may lead to corrective actions, recalls, or process improvements.

Product inspections cover incoming materials, in-process checks, and final or released goods. Process inspections evaluate the performance of manufacturing or service operations. Regulatory inspections are conducted by authorities to verify compliance with laws and standards for areas such as food safety, environmental protection, and workplace safety. Safety inspections assess hazards in facilities, equipment, and procedures.

Common methods include visual inspection, dimensional measurement, functional testing, nondestructive testing, and automated vision systems. Sampling plans determine the number of items inspected to draw conclusions about a batch. Acceptance criteria are defined in inspection plans, checklists, or quality manuals and may be based on national, industry, or international standards.

Results yield decisions such as pass, fail, or conditional release. Non-conformances are recorded and may require corrective action, rework, rejection, or supplier notification. Inspections can be periodic, random, or event-triggered, and they are usually performed by internal staff or external inspectors. They complement audits, which assess systems and processes rather than individual outputs.