Accreditation Scheme of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Service Companies in the Philippines

1. Accreditation Scheme of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Service Companies in the Philippines Dr. Estrella D. Relunia Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Diliman, Quezon City

2. INTRODUCTION The implementation of NDT activities in the MALAMPAYA FIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT in Batangas province motivated the Philippine Society for Nondestructive Testing (PSNT) to study the previous proposal for an accreditation of NDT service companies in the country.

3. MALAMPAYA FIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ONE OF THE BIG ENERGY PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT; NDT HAS BEEN SUBCONTRACTED TO FOREIGN FIRMS.

4. DEFINITION OF TERMS ACCREDITATION IS A PROCESS THAT GENERALLY APPLIES TO INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS AND INVOLVES ELEMENTS OF CONFORMANCE TO STANDARDS, COMPETENCY JUDGMENT; THE EVALUATION OF CREDENTIALS EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONALISM AND “FORMAL” RECOGNITION. ACCREDITATION IS THE TERM THAT APPLIES TO THE ASSESSMENT EVALUATION AND FORMAL RECOGNITION OF THE WORK OF CERTIFICATION BODIES.

5. DEFINITION OF TERMS CERTIFICATION OR CONFORMITY CERTIFICATION MEANS THAT SOMETHING, USUALLY A PRODUCT, A MATERIAL, A SERVICE OR A PRACTICE IS CERTIFIED AS CONFORMING TO A PARTICULAR STANDARD OR SPECIFICATION.

6. SCHEME • PHASES OF THE PROPOSAL: • FIRST PHASE – ACCREDITATION TO BE DONE BY • THE PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE • TESTING (PSNT) – PSNT ACCREDITATION • 2. SECOND PHASE – ACCREDITATION TO BE DONE BY • A NATIONAL BODY UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE • BUREAU OF PRODUCT STANDRDS – NATIONAL • ACCREDITATION.

7. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION GOVERNMENT OTHER NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BODIES ACCREDITATION BODIES QUALITY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION BODIES PRODUCT CERTIFICATION BODIES LABORATORY CONFORMITY CERTIFICATION MECHANISMS CUSTOMER SUPPLIER

8. 2. PSNT ACCREDITATION • 2.1 SCOPE • The guidelines to be developed here are aimed at evaluating the capability of a NDT service company to properly perform designated NDT technique/examinations. • Criteria are to be developed to establish essential characteristics pertaining to the organization, personnel, facilities, and quality systems of the service company. • A framework for implementation of the accreditation process is presented.

9. PSNT ACCREDITATION • 2.2 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS • ISO 9001, 9002, 9003; ASTM E-543, 1212, 1359; PNS146:1998; • THE ABOVE-CITED APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO EXCEPT FOR PNS1465:1998 ‘QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING PERSONNEL: WHICH IS TO BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED; • OTHER DOCUMENTS FOUND RELEVANT AND APPLICABLE.

10. PSNT ACCREDITATION • 2.3 EVALUATION CRITERIA - ORGANIZATION OF THE NDT SERVICE COMPANY - PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES - FACILITIES FOR NDT - QUALITY SYSTEMS - IMPLEMENTATION

11. 2.3 EVALUATION CRITERIA • 1. ORGANIZATION OF THE NDT SERVICE COMPANY • COMPLETE LEGAL NAME AND ADDRESS; • NAMES AND POSITIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS; • THE COMPANY’S OWNERSHIP, MANAGERIAL STRUCTURE, AND PRINCIPAL MEMBERS; • FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY’S ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE, OPERATIONS GROUP, AND SUPPORT GROUP; • A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY’S CLIENT’S AND; • A LISTING OF THE RELEVANT TECHNICAL SERVICES OFFERED.

12. EVALUATION CRITERIA (CON’T) • 2. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES • Training, qualification, and certification of the nondestructive testing personnel shall be in accordance with the national standard PNS 146:1998; • There shall be maintained personnel records of the certified NDT individual, containing among others, his/her documented certification, work experience, and training history; • The service company shall describe the program or means of ensuring the continued competence of its personnel to perform NDT.

13. EVALUATION CRITERIA (CON’T) • 3. FACILITIES FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING • The service company shall be equipped with, or have access to, the minimum required equipment and number for the service it is to perform. • Equipment leasing from and by PSNT-accredited company may or may not be allowed. • The service company shall ensure that its equipment used in NDT are calibrated and properly maintained.

14. EVALUATION CRITERIA (CON’T) • 3.4 QUALITY SYSTEMS • As a minimum requirement, a procedures Manual for the type of work for which the NDT service company is being accredited shall be prepared. • The NDT service company shall ensure that it performs only examinations for which it is adequately equipped and staffed.

15. QUALITY SYSTEMS (CON’T) • The NDT service company shall ensure that only certified NDT personnel are to perform the NDT examinations and only calibrated equipment are to be used in the NDT work. • The NDT service company shall ensure that NDT activities are done in accordance with specified standards or quality control criteria or both.

16. QUALITY SYSTEMS (CON’T) • There shall be established control of purchased NDT equipment, supplies, and services, including handling, storage and shipping or transport, as applicable. • A Level 3 personnel within the company to be responsible for maintaining the company’s quality system shall be designated. • The NDT service company shall develop a Quality Manual.

17. EVALUATION CRITERIA (CON’T) • 3.5 IMPLEMENTATION • The PSNT represented by its Board of Directors, shall create working committees to make a detailed draft of the guidelines for accreditation and to develop the survey questionnaire. • The PSNT shall create a PSNT Accreditation Committee (PSNT-AC) to formulate rules and regulations for the implementation of the accreditation process.

18. IMPLEMENTATION(CON’T) • The PSNT-AC shall create the PSNT Assessment Teams (PSNT-AT) to conduct the assessment of the NDT service companies. • The accreditation shall have a fixed validity period. • Surveillance shall be undertaken by the PSNT-AT during the validity of the accreditation.

19. IMPLEMENTATION(CON’T) • Initially, a self-survey by the NDT service companies based on the survey questionnaires to be developed by the PSNT working committees would be recommended.

20. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION • 1. PROPOSED FRAMEWORK • 1.1 The “Implementing Guidelines for the Accreditation of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Service Companies”, herein referred to as the ARTICLE is proposed as the framework for national accreditation. It is reprinted as attachment to this report for easy reference.

21. PROPOSED FRAMEWORK (CON’T) • 1.2. Items in the ARTICLE which could be modified, supplemented, or detailed could be: • Item 4.0 – Classification of NDT Service Companies; • Item 7.1 – Rules and Regulations; and • Item 8.0 – Requirements for Accreditation

22. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION (CON’T) • 2. NDT ASSESSMENT TEAMS • 2.1 The PSNT Accreditation Committee shall establish and cause the publication of the: • Guidelines or the qualification and selection of assessors; • The conduct of the 0n-site assessments; • The implementation of proficiency testing, as needed; • The evaluation of companies leading to accreditation; • The accreditation criteria; • The evaluation procedures; and • Associated fees, if any.

23. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION (CON’T) • 3. IMPORTANCE OF THE PSNT ACCREDITATION • The Evaluation criteria, implementing guidelines, and experience gained in the implementation of the PSNT Accreditation will substantially contribute to the development and implementation of the National Accreditation. • The PSNT Accreditation will cease once the national accreditation is fully implemented.

24. CONCLUSION THE ACCREDITATION OF LOCAL NDT SERVICE COMPANIES AND PROVIDERS WILL PROVIDE THE PROOFS OF THE COMPETITIVE QUALITIES OF THE FILIPINO NDT PRACTITIONERS. THIS WILL SHOW THE PROOF THAT THE NDT SECTOR IS GOVERNED BY APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS. THE ACCREDITATION WILL ALSO SERVE AS A DETERRENT MEASURE IN THE COMING OF FOREIGN NDT CONTRACTORS AS THEY ARE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACCREDITATION SCHEME IMPLEMENTED IN THE PHILIPPINES BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PERFORM NDT JOBS IN THE COUNTRY.

25. THANK YOU AND GOOD DAY!