A Comprehensive Review of Convolutional Neural Networks for Defect Detection in Industrial Applications

Quality inspection and defect detection remain critical challenges across diverse industrial applications. Driven by advancements in Deep Learning, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have revolutionized Computer Vision, enabling breakthroughs in image analysis tasks like classification and object detection. CNNs’ feature learning and classification capabilities have made industrial defect detection through Machine Vision one of their most impactful applications. This article aims to showcase practical applications of CNN models for surface defect detection across various industrial scenarios, from pallet racks to display screens. The review explores object detection methodologies and suitable hardware platforms for deploying CNN-based architectures. The growing Industry 4.0 adoption necessitates enhancing quality inspection processes. The main results demonstrate CNNs’ efficacy in automating defect detection, achieving high accuracy and real-time performance across different surfaces. However, challenges like limited datasets, computational complexity, and domain-specific nuances require further research. Overall, this review acknowledges CNNs’ potential as a transformative technology for industrial vision applications, with practical implications ranging from quality control enhancement to cost reductions and process optimization.