Editing Inspection (section)

===Engineering, mechanics===
{{Further|Nondestructive testing}}
A mechanical inspection is usually undertaken to ensure the safety or reliability of structures or machinery.<ref>{{cite book
|title=Fitness-for-Service Evaluations for Piping and Pressure Vessels: ASME Code Simplified
|author=Antaki, George
|publisher=McGraw-Hill
|year=2005
|isbn=978-0071453998
}}</ref>

In Europe bodies involved in engineering inspection may be assessed by accreditation bodies according to ISO 17020 "General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection". This standard defines inspection as "examination of a product, process, service, or installation or their design and determination of its [[conformity]] with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional judgment, with general requirements".<ref>BS EN ISO/IEC 17020: "Conformity assessment - Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection", pp. 1 (2012)</ref>

Non-destructive examination (NDE) or [[nondestructive testing]] (NDT) is a family of technologies used during inspection to analyze materials, components and products for either inherent defects (such as [[fractures]] or cracks), or service induced defects (damage from use). Some common methods are visual, [[industrial computed tomography scanning]], [[microscopy]],  [[dye penetrant inspection]], [[magnetic-particle inspection]], [[X-ray]] or [[radiographic testing]], [[ultrasonic testing]], [[eddy-current testing]], [[acoustic emission testing]], and [[thermographic inspection]]. In addition, many non-destructive inspections can be performed by a precision scale, or when in motion, a [[checkweigher]]. [[Stereo microscope]]s are often used for examining small products like [[circuit boards]] for product defects.

Pipeline inspection is a crucial process in ensuring the integrity and safety of pipelines used in various industries such as oil and gas, fertilizer, process industries, food and beverages, water distribution, and transportation. This systematic examination involves the assessment of pipeline materials, structural integrity, corrosion levels, and potential defects using advanced technologies like ultrasonic testing, magnetic flux leakage, and visual inspections. Regular inspections help identify issues early, allowing for timely maintenance and reducing the risk of leaks or catastrophic failures, thus ensuring the efficient and safe operation of these vital infrastructure components.

Inspection and technical assistance during turnarounds helps to decrease costly downtime as well as ensures restart of operations quickly and safely.<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.eng.tau.ac.il/~bengal/SCI_paper.pdf
|title=Self-correcting inspection procedure under inspection errors
|author=Ben-Gal I., Herer Y. and Raz T.
|publisher=IIE Transactions on Quality and Reliability, 34(6), pp. 529-540.
|year=2003
|access-date=2014-01-10
|archive-date=2013-10-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013171945/http://www.eng.tau.ac.il/~bengal/SCI_paper.pdf
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>