Vendor & Third-Party Surveillance
Independent vendor inspection and third-party surveillance to verify quality, compliance, and workmanship before materials ever reach your site.
Trusted Oversight from Start to Finish
Your project is only as strong as the materials and components delivered to site. Steelhead's vendor and third-party surveillance services protect your investment by verifying that fabrication, inspection, and documentation meet contract and code requirements before shipment.
We act as your eyes and ears at vendor facilities, coordinating inspections, confirming traceability, and providing clear, defensible records from purchase order through delivery.
When Vendor Quality
Falls Short
Supplier issues often lead to costly delays, rework, and non-conformance reports. In many cases, these problems don't start on site, they start at the vendor level with inconsistent inspection practices, unclear acceptance criteria, or incomplete documentation.
Steelhead prevents these risks by providing qualified surveillance personnel and standardized reporting at every stage of fabrication.
Nearly 40% of project delays are linked to vendor quality issues.
How We Manage Vendor Surveillance
Plan & Define Scope
Review purchase orders, inspection and test plans (ITPs), and acceptance criteria to establish clear surveillance scope and hold points.
Assign Inspectors
Assign qualified, certified inspectors based on scope, code requirements, and vendor capabilities.
Monitor & Report
Perform inspections, issue standardized visit reports, and track deficiencies and corrective actions in real time.
Verify & Release
Verify documentation completeness, material traceability, and readiness for release prior to shipment.
Benefits
Why Clients Trust Steelhead with Vendor Oversight
Independent vendor surveillance only works when accountability is clear.
Steelhead acts on behalf of owners to verify compliance, manage inspection outcomes, and protect quality before materials ever reach site.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VENDORS AND YOUR TEAM
REDUCED REWORK AND WARRANTY CLAIMS
CONSISTENT INSPECTION DOCUMENTATION
VERIFIED COMPLIANCE BEFORE DELIVERY
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Yes. We manage the full surveillance lifecycle, including inspector qualification, assignment, oversight, and reporting. Steelhead acts as the single point of accountability to ensure inspections meet contract, code, and client requirements.
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We support a wide range of inspections, including welding, coating, dimensional verification, document and data review, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and in-process surveillance. Inspection scope is tailored to the equipment, vendor, and project risk profile.
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We establish structured reporting and escalation protocols from day one. Clients receive daily and final inspection reports with photos, findings, and status updates, all stored in shared systems to maintain transparency and traceability.
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By applying standardized inspection criteria, reporting formats, and acceptance requirements across all vendors. This prevents variability in quality outcomes and allows issues to be identified and addressed early.
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Yes. Vendor surveillance can operate as a standalone service or integrate seamlessly with project planning, QA/QC consulting, or fractional quality management to maintain continuity from procurement through delivery.
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Yes. Steelhead can support international and remote vendor inspections by coordinating qualified inspectors where the work is being performed, or by running a remote surveillance approach when travel isn’t practical. This can include pre-inspection document and ITP review, live video/photographic hold-point verification, real-time communication with the vendor, and clear, defensible reporting aligned to your requirements and acceptance criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protect Quality Before It Leaves the Shop
Ensure your suppliers meet every specification and code requirement before equipment reaches your site.