A direct part marking system (100, 302, 406, 406a-406n), comprising: a laser marking unit configured to mark DPM features (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) on parts (102, 200a, 200b, 318); an illumination unit configured to produce a visible illumination signal (206, 206a, 206b, 306, 510, 610, 716) to be illuminated onto a part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) being marked with a DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); and characterized by: an imaging device (106, 106a, 106b, 108) configured to capture images of DPM features (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) marked on parts (102, 200a, 200b, 318); a processing unit in communication with said laser marking unit and illumination unit, said processing unit configured to: control said laser marking unit to mark the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); cause said imaging device (106, 106a, 106b, 108) to capture an image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); identify an event performed by the DPM system (100, 302, 406, 406a-406n), wherein identify an event includes determine that the image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) was correctly marked and read; and cause said illumination unit to illuminate the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the visible illumination signal (206, 206a, 206b, 306, 510, 610, 716) to indicate an occurrence of the event in response to identifying the event. a laser marking unit configured to mark DPM features (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) on parts (102, 200a, 200b, 318); an illumination unit configured to produce a visible illumination signal (206, 206a, 206b, 306, 510, 610, 716) to be illuminated onto a part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) being marked with a DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); and characterized by: an imaging device (106, 106a, 106b, 108) configured to capture images of DPM features (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) marked on parts (102, 200a, 200b, 318); a processing unit in communication with said laser marking unit and illumination unit, said processing unit configured to: control said laser marking unit to mark the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); cause said imaging device (106, 106a, 106b, 108) to capture an image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); identify an event performed by the DPM system (100, 302, 406, 406a-406n), wherein identify an event includes determine that the image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) was correctly marked and read; and cause said illumination unit to illuminate the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the visible illumination signal (206, 206a, 206b, 306, 510, 610, 716) to indicate an occurrence of the event in response to identifying the event. control said laser marking unit to mark the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); cause said imaging device (106, 106a, 106b, 108) to capture an image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404); identify an event performed by the DPM system (100, 302, 406, 406a-406n), wherein identify an event includes determine that the image of the DPM feature (202, 204, 208, 210, 310, 404) was correctly marked and read; and cause said illumination unit to illuminate the part (102, 200a, 200b, 318) with the visible illumination signal (206, 206a, 206b, 306, 510, 610, 716) to indicate an occurrence of the event in response to identifying the event.