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For any enterprise, regardless of its size or the type of production and business activities it carries out, it is necessary to use various equipment and facilities. With the rapid development of intelligence and informatization, equipment is also moving toward greater integration and precision. More and more enterprises are facing challenges such as difficulties in equipment maintenance and high maintenance costs. This paper analyzes the importance of equipment inspection. Taking a petroleum sales company’s implementation of a refined inspection model as an example, it focuses on how to conduct equipment inspections scientifically, so as to improve equipment management levels. Preface: Modern production equipment is increasingly moving toward larger scale, continuous operation, higher speeds, and greater automation. Even a minor malfunction can lead to a complete shutdown, disrupting the normal operation of the entire production line and causing severe economic losses for the enterprise. In response to this situation, changing the management approach for production equipment can be an effective way to improve things, enabling a gradual shift from traditional reactive maintenance to proactive inspection and upkeep. Due to inconsistent personnel competence and unclear inspection contents and standards, the effectiveness of inspections remains poor, and their intended role fails to be realized. Consequently, how to improve the quality of inspections has become a challenge faced by many manufacturing enterprises. The inspection system and the necessity of conducting inspections: Equipment inspection refers to the process by which a company establishes standards and schedules for inspecting its equipment based on its actual production needs. It involves assigning personnel to conduct thorough checks at various points on the equipment. Through systematic and planned inspections, potential problems with the equipment can be identified early, allowing for timely repairs and maintenance. This helps ensure the proper operation of the equipment, thereby extending its useful life and reducing maintenance costs. The equipment inspection system is not merely a method of inspection, but also a system and management approach. By implementing a equipment inspection and maintenance management model involving all employees, the equipment failure rate is continuously reduced, effectively preventing equipment-related accidents. This, in turn, enhances the enterprise’s equipment management level as well as its on-site safety control capabilities, laying a solid foundation for the company’s high-quality development. Problems faced by enterprises in carrying out inspection tasks: Many enterprises, when conducting inspections, have a complete system for such tasks, but in practice these systems are merely formalities; they fail to effectively identify potential problems with equipment and the work environment, as a result of which the actual purpose of inspections is not fulfilled. The main reasons for this are as follows: (1) The company does not give enough importance to inspection tasks. In the daily management of enterprises, it is common for a inspection system to be in place, yet from managers to operators, no one has a proper understanding of this inspection process, treating it merely as a formality. (2) The quality of inspection personnel is generally low. In enterprises, the personnel responsible for inspections are often frontline operators who generally have a low level of education, weak safety awareness, and insufficient inspection skills. The inspection process is also superficial, failing to effectively identify any potential issues. (3) Inadequate staff training. Due to the high turnover rate among front-line workers, many companies are reluctant to invest money and effort in providing training. Even in companies that do conduct training, no targeted specialized training on inspections is provided. As a result, many employees are willing to perform inspection tasks, but lack the necessary professional knowledge and skills. (4) Inspection criteria are not quantified, and the inspection methods are rough. In the process of carrying out inspection work, most enterprises establish detailed inspection systems; however, they overlook the formulation of inspection standards. Moreover, the methods of inspection largely rely on experience-based judgment. This has led to many new workers not having a clear understanding of the standards for inspections. How to carry out equipment inspection work; relevant measures for conducting inspections (1) Hierarchical management of equipment. To save manpower, focus on equipment management, and effectively improve the efficiency of inspections, all equipment and areas in the warehouse have been classified into different levels. Based on criteria such as cost-effectiveness, reliability, and maintainability, all of the company’s equipment is classified into Category A equipment (critical equipment), Category B equipment (key equipment), and Category C equipment (general equipment). Focus on carrying out regular inspections of Category A and B equipment, while performing periodic inspections of Category C equipment to ensure its proper operation. (2) Inspection work is carried out in stages. Based on the principle of full participation, a three-key inspection mechanism is established. That is, there is a three-level inspection mechanism for on-site workers, maintenance team members, and equipment technicians. Depending on the professionalism of the inspection tasks and the frequency at which they are carried out, inspections are divided into routine inspections and specialized inspections; a hierarchical management system for these inspections is implemented, with operators being primarily responsible for checking the operating condition of the equipment ； The maintenance team’s rented personnel are mainly responsible for identifying basic equipment malfunctions and performing equipment maintenance ； Professional managers are primarily responsible for conducting thorough inspections of the equipment as a whole, and by clarifying responsibilities, they ensure that inspection tasks are carried out effectively. (3) Establish inspection standard documents. Inspection work is a highly specialized task. What needs to be inspected? How to check? Who will check it? Are the test results normal? All of these issues require a complete set of technical requirements. This standard document provides detailed descriptions of the inspection locations, inspection criteria, persons responsible for inspections, inspection intervals, and standards for good condition for each piece of equipment. Ensure that no items are overlooked during inspections, that any existing problems can be identified in a timely manner, and that there is a basis for reference and accountability. (4) Conduct training on inspection capabilities. Frontline operators are the main executors of inspection tasks. After establishing comprehensive inspection standard manuals, it is necessary to conduct training on inspection capabilities, so that everyone involved in inspections clearly understands the required standards and criteria. To ensure that the training is effective, after the inspection skills training is completed, the trainers should assess the inspection skills of those who have received the training. Those who fail the evaluation are given retraining until they pass. Truly ensure that employees conduct inspections, know how to conduct them, and do so correctly, so that inspections truly make sense and are effective. (5) Combine equipment inspection with the rectification of potential hazards. Introduce intelligent explosion-proof inspection terminals, and install electronic inspection tags at key locations and critical equipment within the production area; these tags contain information regarding the inspection tasks and standards for the equipment in that area. If inspectors detect any potential problems during their inspections, they can upload these issues through this intelligent explosion-proof inspection terminal. They can also assign responsible persons for addressing the issues and set deadlines for completion. The higher-level management authorities can monitor the progress of resolving these issues remotely via this terminal, thereby improving the efficiency of addressing equipment-related problems. (6) Keep proper inspection records. The inspection records of equipment serve as a crucial basis for carrying out equipment maintenance and achieving refined management of equipment. Records of detailed equipment parameters, lubrication and maintenance status, replacement of important components, and inspection and repair activities also constitute important reference materials for future maintenance and repair efforts. (7) Conduct strict evaluations and enforce clear rewards and punishments. During the implementation of the inspection system, it is necessary to carefully record the inspection details, as this serves as an important basis for assessing the effectiveness of the system. Those who conduct inspections carefully should be praised and rewarded, while those who do not carry out their inspections properly should be evaluated in accordance with the company’s rules and regulations. (8) A combination of intelligent inspection and manual inspection. To effectively manage this major hazard source—the finished oil tank farm—the company has introduced a robotic intelligent inspection system. The inspection robots utilize five sets of monitoring devices, namely visible light cameras, thermal infrared sensors, microphones, combustible gas detectors, and toxic gas detectors, to conduct intelligent inspections of the finished oil storage tanks, loading pumps, and vapor recovery systems. The central control room receives in real time the inspection data sent back by the robots, and can monitor as well as intervene in the on-site inspection processes. At present, the company’s tank storage area employs both manual and mechanical inspection methods, offering more comprehensive on-site preventive control measures and thus ensuring greater safety in the operation of the storage area. Conclusion: By implementing meticulous equipment management and standardizing the content and procedures for equipment inspections, the company was able to make full use of these inspection processes, reduce equipment failure rates, and improve the level of safety management on site. It is evident that the correct inspection method is crucial.