In this study, numerical investigation has been performed on the impingement, spreading and solidification of a coating material droplet impacting onto a solid substrate in the thermal spray process. The numerical model is validated through the comparison of the present numerical result with experimental data fer the flat substrate without surface defects. An analysis of deposition formation on the non-polished substrate with surface defects is also performed. The parametric study is conducted with various surface defect sizes and shapes to examine the effect of surface defects on the impact and solidification of the liquid droplet on the substrate.