Industrial Testing & Inspection: The Whole System

What this topic covers

How requirements, sampling, measurement, inspection, testing, records and disposition fit together.

Core testing ideas

Industrial testing compares materials, products or processes with defined requirements.

Inspection observes characteristics; testing measures or challenges selected properties under controlled conditions.

A useful system links requirements, method, equipment, competence, traceability, results and disposition.

Measurement and method limits

A result is only meaningful when the characteristic, units, method and acceptance requirement are clear.

Evidence and traceability

Traceability and documentation let later reviewers understand what was tested and with which equipment and method.

Using the result

Inspection plans should focus effort on meaningful characteristics instead of collecting data without a decision path.