NDT Certification Awareness

For
 NDT Practitioner and Manager

(By Suryabhan Prasad)

 

Introduction

How has NDT been made known to the general public? Your Internet site is a good example. Have we had any significant public awareness events or processes that have proven to be particularly effective in changing the public's awareness or confidence in NDT?" To date I have yet to meet a member of the public that has any awareness of what an NDT person does. Websites and books and conferences are all good and well but in reality it is NDT people that go to the sites. When a member of the public flies in a 747 he doesn’t think about the guys that tore the engine to pieces or the guy who UT inspected the wing attachments, all they think about is the guy in the front seat who pushes autopilot after takeoff (that’s why they get all the attention and nice salaries).

 

Industries Needs

Today's world is very definitely customer driven and all persons, employees, organizations; companies must strive to meet their customers’ expectation to survive. To accomplish these types of changes in NDT, managers, especially top level managers must adapt different models of management. They must learn to recognize and fulfill their customer’s needs.  Traditional management techniques do not work; quality, productivity, innovation are now perceived as originating elsewhere. This is not true. What is making Japanese firms the perceived automotive industry leaders, are techniques developed. It is required for strengthening of NDT industry by building a pool of skilled NDTers.

 

Application of NDT Methods in Industries

Various NDT methods are used in varieties of industries and equipment but not limited to following:

      Industries:

      Nuclear Industries

      Ship Building Industries

      Oil Industries

      Refinery and Petrochemical Industries

      Steel Industries

      Aerospace Industries

      Equipments:

      Off - shore platforms

      Construction and maintenance of pipelines

      Pressure vessels

      Bridges

      Cranes Tanks and tankers

      Aerospace vehicles

      Power generation equipment

      Research facility

 

NDT History Events

On the certification scheme everyone seems to forget the CEGB who ran certification in the sixties well before ASNT, CSWIP, PCN. And it was a toughie, no written but the practical was monitored and constant pressure applied to check your ability to stand up to welding foremen etc. Also in the aerospace field, I believe the AQD in Britain had a scheme that predated this and was equally searching.

      Canada began central certification in 1961.

      SNT TC 1A started around 1968

      I learned that NDT existed in Technical School in 1965.

      Sperry (Automation Industries) UT school in 1967. Used a Sperry Reflectoscope model 721. Then something they called a UCD. Have we come a long way since then!

      Branson 600 UT scopes in the early 70's

      Krautkramer USIP 11 was the 'machine of the world' in the mid 70's.

      The first ASNT level III exams were in 1976.

 

NDT Certification Bodies 

Many certification bodies and institutes are promoting professionalism in various countries of the world. Following are few but not only.

      ASNT   : American Society for Non Destructive Testing

      AINDT : Australian Institute for  Non Destructive Testing

      AWS    : American Welding Society

      British Institute of NDT

      CSNDT: Canadian Society for NDT

      Danish Society For NDT

      ISNT: Indian  Society for Non Destructive Testing

      ISRANDT: Israel National Society for NDT

      JSNDI : Japanese Society for Non Destructive Inspection

      Dutch Quality Surveillance and Non-Destructive Testing Society

      KSNT: Korean Society for Non-Destructive Testing

      NDE Institute of Canada

      NDTA : New Zealand NDT Association

 

Non Destructive Methods Recommended by “American Society for Non Destructive Testing” as per SNT-TC-1A Document

      Qualification and certification of NDT personnel in accordance with this Recommended Practice is applicable to each of the following methods

      Qualification and certification of NDT personnel in accordance with this Recommended Practice is applicable to each of the following methods

 

      Non Destructive Methods

      Acoustic Emission Testing

      Electromagnetic Testing

      Infrared and Thermal Testing

      Leak Testing

      Magnetic Particle Testing

      Neutron Radiographic Testing

      Liquid Penetrant Testing

      Radiographic Testing

      Ultrasonic Testing

      Vibration Analysis

      Visual Testing

      Predictive Maintenance

 

Level of Qualification recommended by “American Society for Non Destructive Testing” as per SNT-TC-1A Document

      As per SNT-TC-1A document there are three basic levels of qualification. The employer may subdivide these levels for situations where additional levels are deemed necessary for specific skills and responsibility.

 

      Level of Qualification

 

      NDT level I.
An individual certified to NDT level I is qualified to carry out NDT operations in accordance with written instructions and under the supervision of level II or level III

      NDT level II.
An individual certified to NDT level II is qualified to perform and direct non-destructive testing in accordance with established or recognized procedures.

      NDT level III.
An individual certified to NDT level III may be authorized to direct any operation in the NDT method (s) for which he is certified.

 

Effects on Industries

      The education of all personnel must ultimately be of advantage to industry and the NDT technicians:

      By maintaining and improving the quality of operations.

      By fostering an awareness and knowledge of other methods of NDT.

      By ensuring recognition of our personnel and their work on the international stage.

      By enhancing employee motivation and commitment.

      And by achieving a better stability of employment because a qualification in a technology such as NDT is something to be valued and utilized - NDT will become a career, not just a job.

 

Conclusion:

People are concerned about the integrity of bridges, railroads, Environment   and other public safety. NDT is often viewed by many companies in the same manner that they view quality assurance. It's generally implemented because the product has to meet critical safety requirements." This focus on safety has boosted quality control labs' awareness of NDT. "The world is becoming more cognizant about safety, and because of these heightened concerns, NDT Certification is getting more recognized,"

 

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