A system for the detection of foreign object debris materials or defects on and/or under a surface, comprising: a composite layup machine configured to form a composite part (140, 201), the composite layup machine having a first gantry a head mounted on the first gantry and configured to move over the composite part during formation thereof; a member configured to move separately from the first gantry over an outer ply of the composite part, wherein the member comprises a second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305); a support frame, wherein the first gantry and the second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305) are mounted to the support frame; a thermal excitation source fixed to the member and configured to direct infrared radiation across the outer ply of the composite part, wherein the thermal excitation source is mounted to the second gantry; an infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330) fixed to the member a predetermined distance away from the thermal excitation source and configured to scan the outer ply of the composite part as the member moves over the outer ply of the composite part to detect and output scan information of the outer ply of the composite part, wherein the infrared camera is mounted to the second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305); and a controller coupled to the thermal excitation source and to the infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330), the controller configured to process the scan information from the infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330) to identify a foreign object debris material or defect located on and/or under the outer ply of the composite part. a composite layup machine configured to form a composite part (140, 201), the composite layup machine having a first gantry a head mounted on the first gantry and configured to move over the composite part during formation thereof; a member configured to move separately from the first gantry over an outer ply of the composite part, wherein the member comprises a second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305); a support frame, wherein the first gantry and the second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305) are mounted to the support frame; a thermal excitation source fixed to the member and configured to direct infrared radiation across the outer ply of the composite part, wherein the thermal excitation source is mounted to the second gantry; an infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330) fixed to the member a predetermined distance away from the thermal excitation source and configured to scan the outer ply of the composite part as the member moves over the outer ply of the composite part to detect and output scan information of the outer ply of the composite part, wherein the infrared camera is mounted to the second gantry (205, 215, 220, 305); and a controller coupled to the thermal excitation source and to the infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330), the controller configured to process the scan information from the infrared camera (120, 206, 210, 211, 212, 216, 221, 310, 320, 330) to identify a foreign object debris material or defect located on and/or under the outer ply of the composite part.