In the modern era, technology rules most of our lives. Everything from our shopping list to our refrigerator is operated by new and exciting technology. At the same time, industrial practices are also directly impacted by technological advances.
Nondestructive testing or NDT is heavily reliant on technology to operate at full capacity, but how exactly does the evolving nature of technology affect NDT training and nondestructive testing? Here is what you need to know.
According to Quality Magazine, technological advances have certainly made the NDT field much more complex, particularly when it comes to aerospace technology. Practices adopted by manufacturing industries such as the prevalent use of 3D printing to create increasingly complicated shapes in metal and other hardware have significantly complicated the job description of NDT technicians.
Practices like these require even more precision and attention to detail, making the task of the NDT technician increase in difficulty. It is paramount that all NDT technicians are sufficiently trained and practiced in the ways new technology impacts the products that are tested.
One hundred years ago, the infrastructure that often required the services of NDT technicians existed, but the individuals who created these time-tested highways and bridges never could have imagined the drastic ways in which the transportation field would change.
Relatively new and developing fields like aerospace are the result of rapidly developing technology. As such, nondestructive testing has emerged to help ensure that risky new technology is properly evaluated. NDT serves to guarantee safety when products go out to the public as well as the proper maintenance of these same products and services once they are in use.
As technology develops and new fields like aerospace and renewable energy emerge and evolve, the task of the NDT technician is to undertake every new opportunity and evolve with the developing fields.
Changes in technology mean that technicians, first and foremost, need to be up-to-date in their awareness of the new fields utilizing nondestructive testing.
Those aspiring to NDT certification should ensure that their nondestructive testing courses involve hands-on experience with all the new technologies that require nondestructive testing.
First-hand experience is the best if not the only way to truly ensure that technicians are fully informed and completely ready to perform nondestructive testing on new technologies as they emerge.
If you are looking for a new way to shore up your career prospects or broaden the skills of your employees, NDT training courses could be precisely what you need to take advantage of all the exciting new changes developing technology can bring. Whether it is Level 1 Limited Training or up to NDT Level 3 Certification, nondestructive testing courses are a crucial component of overall innovation in our world.
Even though technology’s impact on the NDT field is inevitable and undeniable, that doesn’t mean that technicians should not be well versed in older NDT practices.
For example, according to MRO-network, “the key NDT technique for field testing of aircraft components is eddy currents (Eddy Current Testing) for aluminum airframes. Ultrasonic and X-ray techniques are also commonly used . . . With more and more composites used on aircraft, methods are changing . . . Ten years ago, eddy current was used more than it is today.”
They also emphasize that roughly 80% of airplane inspections by certain airlines are completed using Eddy Current Testing. Some time-honored methods are still perfectly fine for use, in spite of technological advancement.
At TXNDT, we are committed to ensuring that all technicians who receive certification through our program leave as qualified professionals with ample hands-on experience, guided by the best minds in the business. We ensure that our personnel is qualified and equipped to best serve all job functions and stay aware of all compliance needs and specifications.
If you or your staff are looking for ways to expand your skills and broaden your career opportunities for the long haul, give us a call today at (281) 231-0001 or check out our website for more information.
