In general, visual weld inspection is performed:

• A. Before welding
• B. During welding
• C. After welding
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Visual weld inspection is used at multiple points in the process to keep quality under control. Before welding, you look at the joint fit-up, cleanliness, and prep to prevent defects from the start. During welding, you observe the weld pool and bead to catch issues like improper fusion or irregular bead shape as they develop. After welding, you check the completed weld for surface defects, proper size, and overall conformance to the spec. Relying on only one stage can miss problems that arise during the process or from preparation, so inspecting before, during, and after welding provides the most thorough quality check. That’s why the general practice is to perform visual inspection at all stages.