EFNDT Guidelines on the overall NDT quality system in Europe

摘要

Non-Destructive testing (NDT) has a number of important roles to play in ensuring the through-life quality and reliability of many important products whose integrity is of paramount importance. The traditional role of NDT in quality control during manufacture -predominantly defect detection -has been complemented in recent years with increasingly important inspections in-service on plant and equipment at varying stages through life. The correct application of NDT can prevent accidents, save ives, protect the environment and avoid economic loss. It is an increasing requirement of quality assurance systems that a company's engineers, technicians and craftsmen are able to demonstrate that they have the required level of knowledge and skill. This is particularly so since NDT and inspection activities are very operator dependent and those in authority have to place great reliance on the skill, experience, judgement and integrity ofthe personnel involved. Indeed, during fabrication, NDT and inspection prides the last line of defence before the product enters service, whilst once a product or structure enters service, in-service NDT is often the only line of defence against failure.