THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 129 - May 2005

FROM THE EDITOR

BSI Audits to ISO 9001
During week commencing Monday 11 April 2005 British Standards Institution (BSI) carried out audits as follows: We are pleased to report that no non-conformities were given although two issues were raised. Thanks to all staff involved in keeping the company's business management system working so efficiently, in particular Bob Theaker at Ossett, Ray Thompson (Ossett - site), John Morris and James Bailey.

Joke of the Month

A Brummie walks into an office for a job interview wearing a polyester shirt, some brightly coloured flairs and big boots. The interviewer says, "All you need now is a kipper tie!" So the Brummie replies, "That would be nice, two sugars please!"

Anon

PERSONNEL

Bob Theaker - 20 Years
Congratulations to Bob who will have been with the company for 20 years on 7 May 2005.

Dawn Andrews - Update
We are delighted to welcome Dawn back to work. She is now working part-time back at the Chesterfield head office, where she is office manager. The company has had a stair lift fitted to enable her to access her office upstairs.

Following her operation when she had an Ilizarov frame fitted to her leg, Dawn has made steady progress. She now attends physiotherapy sessions to strengthen the muscles she has not been able to use since her accident on 3 January this year.

We wish her speedy recovery back to full health, but we recognise that it will be a slow process. Dawn does not expect the Ilizarov frame to be removed for some time yet.

Welcome
To Jonathon Cadd who started at Burton during April as trainee welder / NDT technician.

Goodbye
To Andrea Broxup, Chris Chapman, Joanne Skinner and Chris Dover who left the company during April. We wish them good luck for the future.

Congratulations
To John Morris who passed ASNT NDT Level 3 in Penetrant Testing. This adds to the Level 3s in Radiographic Testing and Magnetic testing that John already holds.

To Ray Thompson who passed PCN Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing (Welds) Category 3.8 (Nozzles).

To Richard Soar and Graham Clay who passed PCN Level 1 Eddy Current Testing of Wrought Products.

To Nick Bond and Paul Johnstone who passed Ultrasonic Testing of Rail Welds category U5.

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Chesterfield 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 - £180.00 (52 weeks)
January - £20.00 (5 weeks)
February - £60.00 (4 weeks)
5 March - £0.00
12 March - £0.00
19 March - £0.00
26 March - £20.00
2 April - £10.00
9 April - £10.00
16 April - £0.00
23 April - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Interim Reports and Timesheets
During a recent external audit by BSI it emerged that obsolete interim reports, continuation sheets and timesheets are still being used.

Please ensure that all company documentation bearing ISO 9002 adjacent to the BSI logo is destroyed and only documents bearing ISO 9001 are used.

Standards and Specifications
BS 667: 2005, Illuminance meters - Requirements and test methods, has been issued. Together with BS EN 13032-1: 2004 it supersedes BS 667:1996, which is withdrawn.

BS EN 287-1: 2004, Qualification test for welders - Fusion welding - Part 1: Steels, has been amended by AMD 15598 (Corrigendum No. 1).

Quote of the month

"...focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it."

Anon

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

1) C     2) C     3) D     4) B

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

1. The formula used to calculate the angle of refraction within a material is called:

     A. Fresnel's law.
     B. Fraunhofer's law.
     C. Snell's law.
     D. Lamb's law.

2. In a material with a given velocity, when frequency is increased, the wavelength will:

     A. Not be affected.
     B. Increase.
     C. Decrease.
     D. Double.

3. Which is a plot of signal amplitude versus time?

     A. An A-scan display.
     B. A B-scan display.
     C. A C-scan display.
     D. None of the above.

4. A plan view display or recording of a part under examination is called:

     A. A C-scan display.
     B. An A-scan display.
     C. An X-axis plot.
     D. A strip chart recording.

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.

The 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 and related information in the NEWSLETTER. Here is our Equal Opportunities Policy 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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
  1. Applied Inspection is an Equal Opportunities employer and endeavours to foster an atmosphere of mutual tolerance and co-operation amongst its employees.

    We will provide equal opportunities for all employees, and aim to recruit, train, employ and promote staff according to ability and without discrimination or disadvantage of any kind which has no direct bearing on a person's ability to carry out his/her work.

    We seek to deal with employees in ways which promote mutual toleration and co-operation, and to ensure that staff act similarly towards colleagues, customers and the general public.

  2. The Company as an employer recognises that it is bound by the provisions and the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act, the Sex Discrimination Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Race Relations Act, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation, Religion or Belief) Regulations and associated Codes of Practice.

  3. The Company will not tolerate acts of direct, or indirect, discrimination or prejudice by its staff and will take any necessary action to ensure compliance with its policy.

    The Company recognises that acts of harassment or victimisation are forms of discrimination.

  4. The equal opportunities policy will be implemented by the Company, and given to all employees. The Company places a responsibility on its management staff at all levels to ensure that the letter and spirit of this policy is implemented.

  5. The Company will seek positively to develop practice which promotes equal opportunities in recruitment, training and promotion. Individual employees at all levels will be expected to co-operate with measures designed to develop equal opportunities and the removal of discrimination.

  6. The policy will be monitored and reviewed from time to time.

TRANSPORT

The subject of high fuel costs continues and all drivers are asked to refuel at outlets offering the best local prices and drive in a conservative manner to keep our overheads at a reasonable level. It is also most important to maintain accurate business miles chargeable to the customer and it goes without saying that the Inland Revenue expect accurate records of private mileage for all company vehicles.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Health and Safety Rules Booklet
The company's Health and Safety Rules booklet has been revised and will be issued to all employees with their April pay slips. A copy is also available on the Notice Board at each laboratory. Employees are reminded that they must read the booklet and comply with its requirements. Any queries should be addressed to your supervisor, manager or to John Morris (QHS&E manager).

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 27/04/2005

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