NE 110 – Introduction to NDT & QA/QC

1. NE 110 – Introduction to NDT & QA/QC Overview of QA/QC; NDT & QA/QC Certification Requirements Prepared by: Chattanooga State Community College

2. Definitions • Quality Assurance: “All the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system, and demonstrated as needed, to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality.” • Quality Control: “Operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements for quality.”

3. Comparison of QA and QC • QA - a program set up by management to develop procedures to follow to ensure that standards of quality are being met • QC – involves the actual testing of products to uncover defects or to ensure a product meets design specifications

4. Key QA/QC Concepts • Quality auditing – independent review • Metrology – “science of measurement” • Root cause analysis – identification of the original reason for process nonconformance • Preventive/corrective actions – change enacted to eliminate nonconformance • Continual improvement – on-going effort to improve a process

5. QA/QC Concentrations • Civil • Soil testing, inspection of structural steel or concrete • 1st inspectors needed to support new construction • Mechanical • Inspection of valves, pumps, piping systems, hangers/supports, lubrication systems, etc.

6. QA/QC Concentrations Continued • Electrical/I & C • Need basic understanding of electrical equipment such as batteries, breakers, transformers, relays, motors, grounding systems, etc. • Inspection of raceways, cable trays, wire terminations • Receipt of equipment • All QC personnel must be trained in methods of documentation, reporting, and records management

7. American Society for Quality (ASQ) • Offers 17 quality certifications • Web-site provides description and education/experience requirements for: • CQI (Certified Quality Inspector) • CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) • CQA (Certified Quality Auditor) • CQT (Certified Quality Technician) • CQM/OE (Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence)

8. Certified Quality Inspector • Description: • performs laboratory procedures • inspects products • measures process performance • records data/prepares formal reports • Requires two years OJT (with high school diploma or GED) • Exam topics include: • Mathematics (20%) • Metrology (30%) • Inspection and test (30%) • Quality assurance (20%)

9. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) • International standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations • Founded in 1947 • Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland

10. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) • ISO derived from the Greek word isos, meaning “equal” (pronounced the same in all languages) • Members from 163 countries • ANSI is the US-representative to ISO • ISO standards voluntary agreements based on consensus of international expert opinion

11. ISO Quality Management Standards • Provide a model to follow in setting up and operating a management system

12. ISO 9000 Family • An international consensus on good quality management practices • ISO 9001:2008 – a set of standardized requirements for a quality management system against which organizations can be certified • Outlines requirements for: • Control of documents/records • Internal audits • Control of nonconforming product/service • Corrective action/preventive action • ISO 9712 – NDT Qualification and Certification of Personnel

13. ISO 9001 Criticisms • Amount of money, time, and paperwork required for registration • Certification does not guarantee products produced are any good (as long as manufacturing consistent and well-documented)

14. ANSI • Founded in 1918 to enhance global competitiveness of U.S. businesses and U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards • Accredits procedures of standards-developing organizations • More than 10,000 ANSI standards in publication ANSI History

15. ANSI Standards • ANSI N45.2 series • QA program standards for design and construction of nuclear power plants • ANSI N45.2.6 • Delineates the qualification requirements for persons who perform inspections, examinations, and test to determine conformance of safety-related items to specific criteria • Excludes NDT (covered by SNT-TC-1A) • Not applicable for purposes other than verifying conformance • Not applicable to personnel who perform technical specification surveillance testing

16. ANSI 45.2.6 Qualification for Inspectors • Levels I, II, and III (III is highest level) • Requires formal training, OJT, and the satisfactory completion of a written exam • TVA’s NQAP (Nuclear Quality Assurance Program) provides alternate qualification requirements

17. Level I/II Functions • Level I technicians responsible for: • Recording of test data • Implementation of test procedures • Level II technicians also responsible for: • Planning inspections, including test set-up • Evaluating validity and acceptability of test results • Reporting of test results • Supervision of lower level personnel • Qualification of lower level personnel

18. Level III Functions • Level III technicians also responsible for: • Evaluating the adequacy of programs to train and test inspection personnel • Qualification of same level personnel

19. ASNT • American Society for Nondestructive Testing • “ASNT exists to create a safer world by promoting the profession and technologies of nondestructive testing” • Key Certification Standards: • SNT-TC-1A, “Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing” • ANSI/ASNT CP-189, “ASNT Standard for Qualification and Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel”

20. NDT Certification • Standards detail minimum training, education, and experience requirements • Require employers to establish a procedure for certification of NDT personnel (called a “written practice”) • Qualification vs. Certification • 6 Levels of Qualification (CP-189): Trainee, Level I, Level II Limited, Level II, Level III, NDT Instructor

21. NDT Certification Requirements • Level I or II certification usually provided by employer • For certification, individuals must pass: • General written exam • Specific written exam addressing equipment, procedures, techniques, codes, etc. for the organization • Practical exam (demonstration of test and recording of results) • Level III certification requirements may require testing by ASNT or ASME

22. ATA • Air Transportation Association, a trade organization for U.S. airlines • Founded in 1936 • Two ATA documents serve as guidelines for the training of inspection personnel • ATA Specification 105, Guidelines for Training and Qualifying Personnel in Non-Destructive Testing Methods • ATA Specification 107, Visual Inspection Personnel Training and Qualification Guide for FAR Part 121 Air Carriers

23. AIA • Aerospace Industries Association, represents major manufacturers of commercial, military, and business aircraft and spacecraft • Established in 1919 • NAS 410, Certification & Qualification Of Nondestructive Test Personnel – replaces MIL-STD-410E (military test standard) • NAS 999, Nondestructive Inspection of Advanced Composite Structure