THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 116 - April 2004

FROM THE EDITOR

BSI Audits to ISO 9000
Four audits were carried out by British Standards Institution during March as follows:
  1. Ossett laboratory
  2. Chesterfield laboratory
  3. Chesterfield - site
  4. Burton Laboratory
Out of the four audits only two minor non-conformities were raised. Thank you to all staff for maintaining such a high standard, in particular Ivan Hutson and John Hurst who were audited on site. They demonstrated to the BSI auditor their thorough knowledge of company procedures and quality objectives. Also thanks to James Bailey, Ian Bunting, John Morris, Steven Wilkes, Ivan Hutson, Bob Theaker, Richard Johnson, and all other staff who were involved in the audit process.

Company Rules
The Company Rules have been revised and the new version dated February 2004 is available on the notice board at every Applied Inspection base location. Changes have been made to sections relating to company vehicle policy, pensions, equal opportunities and environmental management.

Applied Inspection 20 Years Old

Friday 26 March 2004 is the 20th anniversary of the birth of Applied Inspection Limited.

The directors think that it would be an excellent idea if the company was to buy the founder members a bottle of champagne each!

(Clive Millard, Financial Director)

Joke of the Month

Patient: "Doctor, I can't feel my legs."
Doctor: "Don't worry about it. We've amputated your arms."

(Clive Millard)

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To Andrea Broxup who started at Ossett laboratory during March.

To Neil Humphries who started at Chesterfield during March. Neil holds PCN level 2 in Ultrasonic Testing (Welds, Categories 3.1 and 3.2) and Penetrant Testing (General).

To Chris Dover and Simon Harris who started at Burton during March. Both men are highly qualified. Chris's qualifications include PCN level II Ultrasonic Testing (Welds), Eddy- current Testing, MPI and DPI, and Simon's qualifications include PCN level II Radiographic Testing (Welds), MPI and DPI.

Congratulations
To Neil Humphries who passed PCN level 2 in Ultrasonic Testing (Welds), Category 3.7 and PCN level 2 in Magnetic Particle Inspection (General).

Goodbye
To Angie White who leaves the company at the end of March. We wish her all the best for the future.

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Ossett run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 33 members who each pay £1.00 per week (stopped at source) which is put on the Saturday lottery. Anyone who is not a member, and who would like to join, should contact Dawn or Keith.

Our winnings to date are as follows:
1995 - £160.00 (40 weeks)
1996 - £297.00 (52 weeks)
1997 - £220.00 (52 weeks)
1998 - £251.00 (52 weeks)
1999 - £290.00 (52 weeks)
2000 - £270.00 (53 weeks)
2001 - £382.00 (52 weeks)
2002 - £330.00 (52 weeks)
January to June 2003 - £90.00 (26 weeks)
July - £30.00 (4 weeks)
August - £30.00 (5 weeks)
September - £10.00 (4 weeks)
October - £30.00 (4 weeks)
November - £30.00 (5 weeks)
December - £10.00 (4 weeks)
January - £10.00 (5 weeks)
7 February - £0.00
14 February - £0.00
21 February - £0.00
28 February - £0.00
6 March - £0.00
13 March - £10.00
20 March - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

Friendly 5-a-Side Football Match
AEA Technology v Applied Inspection

Venue: JJB Sports Centre, Pride Park, Derby

Applied Inspection (AI) took to the astro turf pitch very nervously having never played as a team together before, and it showed. Inside 3 minutes AI were 2 -0 down, but the team gathered themselves together and were soon level. The game went to and fro, Paul Goss moving well turning AEA inside out, Lee Davies stubborn in defence, and Jeremy Hodgkinson moving up and down the pitch with command of the wings. AI took the lead but lost it again and amazingly at half time it was 7 goals each. In the second half the pace slowed a little but it was still fast and furious, and the tackles were going in hard. Danny Chester scored 4 goals and he could have had more, but he thought he was playing on ice, as he spent more time on the floor than on his feet. Dave Slater scored 3 goals and was on fire!!! Lee Davies scored the GOAL of the match, a SCREAMER!!! The other goals were shared; Tom Leary made a string of super saves. But as full time was reached AI were down 14-12. A rematch was offered and was accepted.

Yeah, I know there are six names, but AI had a sub.

Report by Fred Hawksworth

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
ASTM E 94 - 04, Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination, has replaced ASTM E 94 - 00.

BS EN 287-1: 2004, Qualification test of welders - Fusion welding - Part 1: Steels, has replaced BS EN 287: 1992, Approval testing of welders for fusion welding, Part 1: Steels, which is withdrawn.

BS EN 1289: 1998, Non-destructive testing of welds - Penetrant testing of welds - Acceptance levels, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14936.

BS EN 1435: 1997, Non-destructive testing of welds - Radiographic testing of welded joints, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14938.

BS EN 1714: 1998, Non-destructive testing of welds - Ultrasonic testing of welded joints, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14941.

BS EN 1290: 1998, Non-destructive testing of welds - Magnetic particle testing of welds, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14935.

BS EN 1011-1: 1998, Welding - Recommendations for welding of metallic materials - Part 1: General guidance for arc welding, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14925.

BS 3451: 1973, Methods of testing - Fusion welds in aluminium and aluminium alloys, has been withdrawn without replacement.

BS EN 12517: 1998, Non-destructive testing of welds - Radiographic testing of welded joints, has been amended. Amendment No. 2, AMD 14944.

Quote of the month

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you're doing the impossible."

St. Francis of Assis

NDT Training
The answers to the questions on Radiation Safety in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

1) C     2) B      3) A     4) C     

Here are some more questions, this time on Eddy Current Testing:

1. An eddy current test coil's opposition to the flow of alternating current is called:

     A. Resistance.
     B. Inductive reactance.
     C. Impedance.
     D. Capacitive reactance.

2. An increase in the impedance of an eddy current test coil will:

     A. Cause an increase in the current flow through the test coil.
     B. Cause a decrease in the current flow through the test coil.
     C. Not affect current flow in the test coil.
     D. Decrease the voltage applied to the coil.

3. Which of the following will affect the impedance of an encircling eddy current test probe?

     A. Conductivity of a test specimen in the coil.
     B. Permeability of a test specimen in the coil.
     C. Fill factor.
     D. All of the above.

4. When a test coil consists of a double winding arrangement, and on winding is referred to as a primary winding, the other winding is referred to as the:

     A. Absolute winding.
     B. Secondary winding.
     C. Phase winding.
     D. None of the above.

Quality at Applied Inspection
Applied Inspection has a number of statements relating to its position on that subject. They are Vision, Mission, Quality, Training, Health & Safety, Environmental, Equal Opportunities and Alcohol & Drugs.

These statements are contained in the Company Rules booklet, available at each site on the Notice Board, and the Health & Safety booklet, issued to all employees. In addition, from time to time we also publish the statements in the NEWSLETTER. Here is our Mission Statement. We welcome comments and/or suggestions from staff in relation to any company policy statement. Please contact any director or e-mail us through the company web site.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to make Applied Inspection the best service inspection company in the world. We will provide our customers with a high quality NDT service at an economic price through an ongoing system of quality improvements in all areas of the company's activities. We will promote co-operation internally between divisions and individuals and externally between our staff and our customers and suppliers. The company's intention is to continually strive for higher levels of:

Quality improvements will be achieved through education and training leading to greater empowerment of the workforce.

The strength of the whole workforce is the most effective way of meeting or exceeding the requirements of all of our customers, enabling us to become the best of the best.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Hand Injuries - Reminder
We reported in the NEWSLETTER last year that the majority of accidents suffered by Applied Inspection employees involve cuts and crush injuries to hands, often while cleaning components before or after inspection.

Hand protection is provided by the Company and the correct type of hand protection must be worn. Therefore when cleaning or handling components for inspection always wear gloves that offer protection against sharp edges (not latex gloves!).

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (4 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (4 Lines) Fax: 01283 539729
Ossett, W Yorks: Tel/Fax: 01924 270006 (2 lines)
Glasgow, Scotland: Tel/Fax: 0141 3355191
Internet Website: www.appliedinspection.co.uk

Published by: Applied Inspection Ltd., Holmewood, Chesterfield, UK. Editor: D K Thomas 24/03/2004

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