A computer implemented method of performing automated defect detection utilizing multi-modal analysis of information, the method comprising: providing at least one database for storing the information used in processing to detect a defect in at least one blade of a plurality of blades in an engine, the information including a plurality of different modes of data, wherein the different modes of data include image data of the blades inside the engine and manufacturing data, the image data including an image of a first blade, the manufacturing data including a 3-D CAD model of a shape of the first blade; providing a processing unit in communication with the database for processing the information; receiving, by the database, updates to the information; using by the processing unit, multi-modal data fusion of different modes of data to create composite data, wherein the multi-modal data fusion includes overlaying the 3-D CAD model of the shape on the image of the first blade to create the composite data; identifying, by the processing unit, a potential defect in the at least one blade of the plurality of blades in an engine by analyzing the composite data, the analyzing including shape matching utilizing linear or non-linear registration and assessing a large amount of deviation in the shape matching to determine the potential defect, wherein the composite data analyzed is a first mode of data; applying, by the processing unit, analysis of a second mode of data, the analysis of the second mode of data triggered by the identifying, the second mode of data different than the first mode of data, wherein the second mode of data is a manufacturing record of the blade, the manufacturing record relating to a family of similar blades or to different blades manufactured by a given supplier; and reporting defects based on the results of the applying. providing at least one database for storing the information used in processing to detect a defect in at least one blade of a plurality of blades in an engine, the information including a plurality of different modes of data, wherein the different modes of data include image data of the blades inside the engine and manufacturing data, the image data including an image of a first blade, the manufacturing data including a 3-D CAD model of a shape of the first blade; providing a processing unit in communication with the database for processing the information; receiving, by the database, updates to the information; using by the processing unit, multi-modal data fusion of different modes of data to create composite data, wherein the multi-modal data fusion includes overlaying the 3-D CAD model of the shape on the image of the first blade to create the composite data; identifying, by the processing unit, a potential defect in the at least one blade of the plurality of blades in an engine by analyzing the composite data, the analyzing including shape matching utilizing linear or non-linear registration and assessing a large amount of deviation in the shape matching to determine the potential defect, wherein the composite data analyzed is a first mode of data; applying, by the processing unit, analysis of a second mode of data, the analysis of the second mode of data triggered by the identifying, the second mode of data different than the first mode of data, wherein the second mode of data is a manufacturing record of the blade, the manufacturing record relating to a family of similar blades or to different blades manufactured by a given supplier; and reporting defects based on the results of the applying.