Method of manufacture

A method of cladding a component comprises (i) applying a clad to a substrate surface using a laser, and (ii) during the laser cladding process, directing a verification laser onto the clad to create a plasma and detecting the frequencies of light emitted from the plasma to indicate the composition of the clad. The method may be applied in manufacturing pressure vessels for nuclear power plants, for real-time monitoring of their internal coatings quality. An apparatus comprising (i) a cladding laser 54 and a material depositor, such as a powder supply 52, for applying a coating to a substrate, (ii) a verification laser 48 moveable along the surface of the coating and producing a plasma when directed thereupon while cladding is taking place and (iii) a light detector 60 for detecting the frequencies of light emitted by the plasma to determine the composition of the coating, is also claimed. Preferably the verification laser is pulsed and follows the path of the cladding laser, being on the same manipulator 50. An ultrasonic receiver 58 may be further included, to detect sound waves generated by the impact of the verification laser beam on the coating and thereby potential delamination thereof.