A glass sheet optical inspection system installed online in a glass sheet processing system includes an apparatus for measuring small optical or obstructive defects in a first selected area of the glass sheet by acquiring and developing a first set of image data, and an apparatus for measuring transmitted optical distortion in a second selected area of the glass sheet by acquiring and developing a second set of image data. The system may also include a glass sheet part identifier and a programmable control including logic for analyzing acquired image data and identifying the glass sheet as one of a set of known part types and thereafter securing and positioning the glass sheet based upon the part-shape analysis.