A visual inspection is the primary method to confirm the objective activities are complying standard requirements. The objectives activities may includes procedures, materials and workmanship incorporated in the works. Normally, qualified personnel / quality engineers are perform this task, in accordance with written practice.
Actually, visual testing is the most basic technique, usually this testing technique needs to involve humans, they testing the product with human eyes to check the defects. But the world is changing their processes, now quality teams are using special equipment to find defects in the product, instead of human eyes technique.
Inspection in engineering
Engineering units often use visual inspection technique in quality inspection process. Visual inspection can be used for internal and external surface inspection of a variety of equipment types, engineering tubes, automotive parts etc.
Depending on how the quality assurance and quality control functions are structured for any particular project, the role of the visual inspector may vary considerably. The level of involvement of the quality assurance is highly dependent on the structure of the quality control program.
Basics of visual inspection
- Visual testing is money saver inspection, it is observable error that can be seen by the naked eye, there is no requirement to take the resources and time to continue the inspection process.
- Visual inspectors are take the product one by one for checking dimensional measurements. That will be highly adequate process which increase the feasibility of defections.
- In some products, it is not easier for automation, by equipment detection or any non-human interfaces. The visual inspection good part is help to ensure that all the specifications of products.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Save money: Normally, visual inspection may help to track the defective products that can increase customer satisfactions and orders. It may prevent re-works, product movements, and save resources too.
- Deep inspection: The technique may helps to identify defects with more deep inspection. Hence, the quality reliability, and quality of works can be increase.
- Dimensional inspection: With visual inspection, each product dimensions can possible to check. Every part of the product may easier to check with sizes, grades and shapes.
- Evaluate workmanship: On completion of the testing process, quality team can ensure the work quality. They can evaluate workmanship through identify percentage of quality works achieved.
Disadvantages:
- Unreliability: Visual inspection have its own limitations.
- Imprecision: When you expecting precision works, the visual inspection process may have little vary with needs. Each specifications of products, and quality requirements are not possible with it.