THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 124 - December 2004

FROM THE EDITOR

BSI Audits to ISO 9000

Audits were carried out by British Standards Institution during November at Burton as follows:
  1. Welding (on-site)
  2. Calibration (extension to scope of registration)
No non-conformities were raised. Thank you to all staff for maintaining such a high standard, in particular Fred Hawksworth, Bob Wilde, Nina Wall, Steve Bardon and support staff who were audited on-site, and James Bailey, Terry MacDonald and Martin Lambert who worked hard to achieve the extension to scope for calibration services, and all other staff who were involved in the audit process.

Joke of the Month

So I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me with a red nose and said, "Your eyes sparkle like diamonds". I said, "Waiter, I asked for a-ROMATIC duck".

(David Slater)

PERSONNEL

Welcome
The company's traditional Christmas gift of alcoholic beverage to members of staff is now considered by the directors to be inappropriate in the light of current health and safety culture. Alternatives are being considered.

Appraisals
Appraisals are currently being carried out by management. If you require a face-to-face meeting for your appraisal please contact your manager before 10 December 2004 to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.

Welcome
To Clare Pickering who started in the office at Burton.

Goodbye
To Martin Nicholson who has left the company. We wish him luck in his future career.

Congratulations
To Steve Wilkes who passed PCN Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing (Welds), Categories 2.1 and 3.7. Steve already holds Ultrasonic Testing (Castings).

To Daniel Strong who passed PCN Level 2 Magnetic Testing (General) Categories e, f and v.

To Mark Hall who passed PCN Level 2 Radiographic Testing (Welds), Categories X, Y, n, o and v. Mark previously held Radiographic Interpretation (Welds).

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Ossett run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 31 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)
2003 - £230.00 (52 weeks)
2004 - £90.00 (26 weeks, January to June)
2004 - July - £10.00 (5 weeks)
2004 - August - £10.00 (4 weeks)
2004 - September - £20.00
2004 - 2 October - £0.00
2004 - 9 October - £0.00
2004 - 16 October - £0.00
2004 - 23 October - £0.00
2004 - 30 October - £0.00
2004 - 6 November - £0.00
2004 - 13 November - £0.00
2004 - 20 November - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

CHRISTMAS NIGHT OUT IN SHEFFIELD
FANCY DRESS (OPTIONAL)

SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER 2004

MEET AT BAR 69
IN CHESTERFIELD AT 7.00 PM
THEN ON TO SHEFFIELD

ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT STEVE WILKES OR KEVIN ARMSTRONG AT CHESTERFIELD, OR NICK BOND AT BURTON (OR JUST TURN UP ON THE NIGHT).

QUALITY & TRAINING

Quality Objectives
All staff, including contract staff, should be familiar with our quality objectives, which are as follows:
  1. Supply competent operators who are appropriately qualified and certificated, to fulfil customer requirements.
  2. Provide operators with functioning, calibrated equipment and instruments.
  3. Provide operators with adequate training in use of supplied equipment and instruments.
  4. Present accurate and understandable reports to customers.
  5. Complete in-house processes and return components to customers in realistic turnaround times.
  6. Continuously monitor and improve the effectiveness of the QMS, processes and services, and meet or exceed the set targets.
  7. Meet all customer, statutory and regulatory requirements
Standards and Specifications
ASME Sections V and IX, 2004 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, have now been purchased. The 2004 Edition of the Code contains revisions in addition to the 2002 and 2003 Addenda. The 2004 Edition becomes mandatory on 1 January 2005.

BS EN ISO 14001: 2004, Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use, has superseded the 1996 edition, which remains current as obsolescent for a period of 18 months.

Quote of the month

"If a million people believe in a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

Anatole France

NDT Training
The answers to the questions on Eddy Current Testing in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

1) C     2) B      3) D     4) B     

Here are some more questions, this time on Magnetic Testing:

1. Subjecting a part to a magnetic field that is constantly reversing in polarity and gradually diminishing in strength accomplishes which of the following?

     A. Magnetizes the part.
     B. Demagnetizes the part.
     C. Increases the strength of the retained magnetic field.
     D. Helps to locate deep-lying defects.

2. How is the concentration of the solid content of a suspension of magnetic particles measured?

     A. By weighing the suspension.
     B. By soaking the solids in benzol.
     C. By permitting the solids to settle out of suspension.
     D. By measuring the pull on a magnet.

3. Which of the following magnetization techniques is not recommended for magnetic particle testing?

     A. Longitudinal magnetization.
     B. Circular magnetization.
     C. Vector magnetization.
     D. Parallel magnetization.

4. When attempting to demagnetize a part containing a circular residual field:

     A. Consideration of the material's hysteresis is most important.
     B. Establish a longitudinal field and then proceed with demagnetization.
     C. Using half wave current with a head shot setup and step-down magnetization will assure complete removal of the residual field.
     D. Use a swinging cyclic field.

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. We will publish our Mission Statement in next month's issue. 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.

TRANSPORT

Driving Licences
All drivers of company vehicles and other authorised drivers, e.g. spouses, must have presented copies of their driving licences to their line manager by 30 November.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Manual Handling
Manual handling notes and policy are displayed on the notice board at each office/laboratory. The manual handling of any load represents a risk of injury. The risk increases as the weight, dimensions, height of lift and the length of carry increases. The risk increases again if the lift involves twisting or bending the body.

The following precautions should be taken to minimise the risk of injury:

Keep manual handling to a minimum

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 24/11/2004

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