Inspection evidence

Inspection evidence is the documented proof that a part was actually checked and met its requirements: measurement records, inspection reports, certificates of conformance, and similar documentation, as opposed to an unsupported claim that a part passed inspection. It's what a customer or auditor can review to verify a part's conformance after the fact.

Why retained records, not just the inspection itself, constitute evidence

For regulated or high-criticality work, a part without retained inspection evidence can be functionally identical to one that was never inspected at all, from an audit or liability perspective, which is why record retention, not just the inspection itself, matters for what evidence actually proves.

Where inspection evidence requirements appear

Called out as a requirement for specific documentation (an inspection report, a certificate of conformance) rather than implied by the tolerance or GD&T callouts alone.

Common mistakes

Performing inspection without retaining adequate records; if the documentation isn't kept in a form that can be produced later, it provides little evidence value even if the inspection itself was done correctly.

Is inspection evidence the same as inspection?

Inspection is the activity of checking a part; inspection evidence is the retained documentation proving that checking actually happened and what it found.

Why does a customer sometimes require specific inspection evidence?

To have documented proof of conformance they can review or audit later, rather than relying on an unsupported claim that inspection passed.

Can inspection evidence be reconstructed after the fact?

Generally not meaningfully; it depends on records captured at the time of inspection, similar to traceability.