What is inspection?

Inspection is a structured, step‑by‑step review of something technical-like source code, a design diagram, or a hardware component-to spot mistakes, improve quality, and ensure it follows agreed standards. It’s usually done by a small team of peers rather than a single person, and it can be manual, tool‑assisted, or a mix of both.

Let's break it down

First, the item to be inspected is prepared (clean code, clear diagrams, etc.). Next, the team meets and walks through the material together, looking at it from a high‑level view. Then they dive into the details, line by line or component by component, noting any defects, ambiguities, or violations of best practices. All findings are recorded in a simple list or issue tracker. Finally, the author fixes the problems and the team may do a quick follow‑up check to confirm the fixes.

Why does it matter?

Finding problems early saves time and money because fixing bugs later in the development cycle is far more expensive. It also spreads knowledge-team members learn from each other’s mistakes and good ideas. Consistent inspections help keep the product reliable, secure, and maintainable, which builds trust with users and stakeholders.

Where is it used?

Software development teams use code inspections (often called peer reviews or pull‑request reviews). Hardware engineers inspect circuit schematics and PCB layouts. Manufacturing lines perform visual and automated inspections of finished parts. DevOps pipelines may include automated static analysis as a form of inspection. Security auditors inspect systems for vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.

Good things about it

  • Catches defects before they reach production.
  • Encourages shared coding standards and best practices.
  • Improves team communication and mentorship.
  • Usually low cost compared to later rework.
  • Can be adapted to any size project or technology stack.

Not-so-good things

  • Takes time away from writing new code or building new features.
  • If reviewers are not skilled, important issues can be missed.
  • Can become a “checkbox” activity where people go through the motions without real focus.
  • May cause tension if feedback is not given constructively.
  • Requires coordination and scheduling, which can be tricky for distributed teams.