1. A method for detecting a defect in an industrial part, said method comprising: a) receiving an input image associated with an industrial part; b) receiving a model type associated with said input image; c) obtaining a model image corresponding to said model type; d) estimating an inter-image transform between said model image and said input image, wherein said estimating comprises: i) detecting a first set of feature points in said input image; ii) detecting a second set of feature points in said model image; iii) determining a current geometric transform estimate; iv) iteratively updating, until a maximum iteration condition is satisfied: (1) a set of feature-point matches between said first set of feature points and said second set of feature points based on said current geometric transform estimate; and (2) said current geometric transform estimate based on said set of updated feature-point matches; and v) assigning said iteratively updated current geometric transform estimate to said estimated inter-image transform; e) obtaining a registered input image and a registered model image by transforming said model image and said input image to a common coordinate system based on said estimated inter-image transform; f) forming a plurality of image difference vectors associated with said input image and said model image; and g) applying a statistical classification model to said plurality of image difference vectors, wherein said statistical classification model generates a labeled classification map associated with said input image.