inspecting

Inspecting is the act of examining an object, process, or system to determine its state, quality, or compliance with applicable standards. It is used across many domains, including manufacturing, construction, safety, environmental monitoring, and software development. The purpose is to identify defects, deviations, or risks and to verify conformity with specifications and regulatory requirements.

An inspection typically includes planning, criteria selection, execution, documentation, and decision making. Methods may involve visual assessment, measurement with instruments, nondestructive testing, sampling, and review of records. Acceptance criteria are defined in advance, and the inspector issues a judgment about conformance, often accompanied by a report that notes nonconformities and required corrective actions.

Common forms include product inspection (incoming, in-process, final), process inspection (conformance to procedures), site or code inspections in construction and government regulation, and, in software, formal inspections or reviews of code and requirements.

Inspection differs from testing, which evaluates function or behavior under conditions, and from auditing, which assesses organizational processes for compliance with standards. Inspections focus on the state or condition of items or processes, whereas testing demonstrates performance and audits evaluate management systems.

Professionals who conduct inspections are expected to be impartial, rely on calibrated tools, follow defined criteria, and document evidence. Frequency and scope are guided by risk, criticality, and legal or industry requirements.