Abstract: A method for characterizing a population of non-metallic inclusions in a component comprising a metal alloy includes cutting and polishing the component to provide an inspection plane, scanning at least one control area of the inspection plane with an optical microscope, using automated optical microscopy and image analysis software to automatically count members of the population of non-metallic inclusions in the at least one control area, determining at least one morphological parameter and a position of each member of the population of non-metallic inclusions within the at least one control area to produce measured data, and processing the measured data using an Extreme Value Analysis or a Generalized Pareto Distribution analysis technique to produce processed data characterizing the population of non-metallic inclusions in the finished or semi-finished component. The morphological parameter is an area, a length, a width and/or an aspect ratio of the non-metallic inclusions.