A system and method are disclosed for monitoring hot glass containers at the hot end as they stream from an I.S. machine manufacturing them to enable their quality to be monitored, enhanced, and controlled. The system monitors radiation from the hot glass containers, extracts images of each hot glass container, analyzes the images of the hot glass containers, and provides the images of the hot glass containers together with information indicative of the quality thereof to a display screen viewable by an operator to enable the quick identification of glass forming process deviations and to occasion continuous improvements in glass container quality. The system and method are independent of conditions and parameters that have hampered previously known attempts to monitor hot glass containers, and make possible the production of glass containers of both high quality and substantially increased consistency.