Characterizing the molecular layers based on chemistry and composition allows manufacturers to truly understand the aspects that make the science of adhesion work. So, it's vitally important to have this information or at least be advised by someone who does. Specialized equipment using sophisticated techniques like x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are needed to map out what the surface truly looks like. This kind of equipment is only available in specialized materials science laboratories, but it's possible to correlate other techniques to the sort of data XPS and FTIR analysis offers.
Using equipment sensitive to the top few molecular layers is necessary to evaluate surface quality based on these chemical attributes accurately. There is accessible lab equipment available, like benchtop goniometers, that many companies utilize when XPS and FTIR are out of the question. Goniometers measure water contact angle to understand a material's wettability or surface energy.