THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 81 - May 2001

FROM THE EDITOR

Quality Audit from BSI to ISO 9000
On 25 and 26 April the British Standards Institution (BSI) carried out audits on the three Applied Inspection laboratories covering all NDT work carried out in-house and on-site. There were no non-conformities raised at Chesterfield, Burton or Cleckheaton laboratories. However, one non-conformity was given to require the company "to complete the first stages of the transition process" to ISO 9001: 2000.

Congratulations to all those involved in ensuring that our Quality Management System (QMS) works so effectively, and to all members of staff who work in accordance with our systems and procedures.

IT Acronyms
Here are the answers to the acronyms in last month's NEWSLETTER:

1.WWWWorld Wide Web
2.ISPInternet Service Provider
3.WAPWireless Application Protocol
4.ITInformation Technology
5.URLUniform Resource Locator
6.SMSShort Message Service
7.GSMGlobal System for Mobile Communication
8.VPLVisual Programming Language
9.DVDDigital Versatile Disk
10.OYWHOn Your Way Home

Note: number 10 is an NDT acronym!

PERSONNEL

Congratulations
To Martin Hall who reaches 10 years service with Applied Inspection on 17 June.

To Peter Kemp who passed PCN Level II MT and PT initial examinations.

Arthur Gardiner in Slonenia
Arthur Gardiner travelled to the Litostroj Foundry in Slovenia on Sunday 8 April on behalf of Goodwins Castings/GE of America. He spent six days carrying out ultrasonic third party inspection on compressor discharge casings. Unfortunately for the Slovenians, Arthur's inspection revealed unacceptable defects in the castings and he now has a return visit booked.

Honest Pat's Car Sales
For sale - Vauxhall Astra Estate, N385 VAU, 150,000 miles. Offers around £1.500.

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Cleckheaton 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)
January, 2000 - £50.00 (5 weeks)
February, 2000 - £30.00 (4 Weeks)
March, 2000 - £50.00 (4 weeks)
April, 2000 - £10.00 (5 weeks)
May, 2000 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
June, 2000 - £0.00 (4 weeks)
July, 2000 - £10.00 (5 weeks)
August, 2000 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
September, 2000 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
October, 2000 - £30.00 (4 weeks)
November, 2000 - £0.00 (4 weeks)
December, 2000 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
January, 2001 - £50.00 (4 weeks)
February, 2001 - £30.00
3 March 2001 - £10.00
10 March 2001 - £0.00
17 March 2001 - £0.00
24 March 2001 - £0.00
31 March 2001 - £0.00
7 April 2001 - £10.00
14 April 2001 - £0.00
21 April 2001 - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
There have been no changes this month notified by the BSI PLUS update system to the company's list of controlled documents.

Quotations
"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it."

"I'm always looking for meaningful one-night stands."

DUDLEY MOORE

BS EN ISO 9001: 2000
The new standard states (section 4.1) that an organisation must establish, document, implement and maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) and continually improve its effectiveness. In effect, it must identify the minor and major processes - their sequences and interactions - with controls to meet the needs and expectations of customers. Proper resources and information must be provided to support the processes. All processes must be monitored or measeured and the data must be collated or analysed.

The QMS becomes the core of the organisations activities once it is established, implemented and routinely maintained. It is not an 'add-on' to the organisation's activities.

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

1) B     2) C      3) C     4) A     

Here are some more questions, this time on Ultrasonics:

1. The equation describing wavelength in terms of velocity and frequency is:

     A. Wavelength = Velocity x Frequency
     B. Wavelength = Z (Frequency x Velocity)
     C. Wavelength = Velocity / Frequency
     D. Wavelength = Frequency + Velocity

2. Which of the following can occur when an ultrasonic beam reaches the interface of two dissimilar materials?

     A. Reflection
     B. Refraction
     C. Mode conversion
     D. All of the above

3. Beam divergence is a function of the dimensions of the crystal and the wavelength of the beam transmitted through a medium, and it:

     A. increases if the frequency or crystal diameter is decreased.
     B. decreases if the frequency or crystal diameter is decreased.
     C. increases if the frequency is increased and crystal diameter decreased.
     D. decreases if the frequency is increased and crystal diameter is decreased.

4 The wavelength of an ultrasonic wave is:

     A. directly proportional to velocity and frequency.
     B. directly proportional to velocity and inversely proportional to frequency.
     C. inversely proportional to velocity and directly proportional to frequency.
     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 Environmental Policy statement. We welcome comments and/or suggestions from staff in relation to any company policy statement. Please contact any Director or Email us through the company Website.

Environmental Policy Statement
The company is committed to the implementation and maintenance of an Environmental Management System in accordance with BS EN ISO 14001, with emphasis placed on prevention of adverse environmental effects rather than on detection and amelioration after occurrence.

We shall strive for continual improvement of our environmental performance at all levels in the organisation through:

1. Carrying out non-destructive tests so as to minimise the environmental effects.

2. Reducing waste and consumption of resources such as materials, fuel and energy.

3. Reducing or eliminating the production of polluting releases to the environment.

4. Meeting all regulatory and legislature requirements relating to the environmental effects of the business operation.

5. Ensuring that, wherever possible, our purchasing of materials encourages suppliers to minimise environmental effects.

6. Minimising the environmental effects of new developments through strategic planning.

Joke of the Month
A man said to his wife, "I've been told that the man at number 10 has made love to every woman in the street except one."

His wife replied, "It'll be that silly cow next door."

Jeff Thomas

HEALTH & SAFETY

Operatives Entering Confined Spaces
Any change of circumstances of a confined space could put operatives within the confined space at risk. Therefore to control the circumstances of the confined space operatives must:

If you are in any doubt contact your supervisor.

NHS Direct
NHS Direct is a telephone service staffed by nurses, giving confidential healthcare advice and information 24 hours a day. It covers:

To contact NHS Direct telephone 0845 4647 or visit the website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (3 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (3 Lines) Fax: 01283 539729
Cleckheaton, W Yorks: Tel/Fax: 01274 869900
Glasgow, Scotland: Tel/Fax: 0141 3355191
Internet Website: www.appliedinspection.co.uk

Published by: Applied Inspection Ltd., Holmewood, Chesterfield, UK. Editor: D K Thomas 26/04/2001

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