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Inspection services are used to test the quality of various industrial systems and machines and manufactured parts. Many firms offer certifications after the successful completion of an inspection, whether for specific products, pieces of equipment or complete facilities. Frequently, industrial inspection services are used to test the quality of a machined part. In these cases, firms provide services like dye testing (or penetrant inspection), borescope inspection, ultrasonic testing and radiography.

Dye testing is a type of non-destructive testing technique used to isolate imperfections on the surface of a machined metal product. In dye testing, the part is subjected to a specialized dye that penetrates any location where there is a minute imperfection. After the required period, excess dye is removed and the part is treated with a developing solution. This solution causes the remaining dye to return to the surface of the metal, indicating locations where an imperfection exists. The method is effective at detecting a wide range of surface imperfections, but it is ineffective with porous materials.

Borescope inspection involves inserting a slim straight or flexible tube into a cylindrical cavity. Flexible borescopes are capable of inspecting curved tubes, while rigid borescopes are limited to straight tubes. However, rigid borescopes tend to provide better image quality because they translate the image directly. Using a borescope, an inspector can detect imperfections in a wide range of devices, from automotive parts to gun barrels. Ultrasonic detectors, on the other hand, are used to find leaks in various systems. Because leaking fluids generate an ultrasonic signal, specialized devices are able to pinpoint the location and nature of a system leak given suitable conditions.

X-ray and radiography inspection use short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation to examine the internal integrity of various objects. The object being inspected is subjected to a set quantity of radiation, which is measured on the opposite side of the source. The thickness and composition of the object determines the amount of radiation allowed to pass through it. Internal holes and denser areas will cause a change in the measurements, thereby revealing themselves.