THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 99 - November 2002

FROM THE EDITOR

Teamwork
The advantages of working in teams are that they allow us to bring together diverse knowledge and skills, encourage co-operation between different departments or divisions of an organisation, and communicate the need for improvement and the status of improvement efforts. There are also some disadvantages to teams. If they are not carefully designed, they can be a waste of time and money. Simply putting people together in a room will not ensure that they will work together as a team. Teams should be designed in a way that encourages participation and interaction.

Key elements in the design of an effective team are:
  • Leadership skills
  • Selection of members
  • Education of members

PERSONNEL

Congratulations
To Tom Donegan and his team, including Martin Stansfield, who carry out NDT at Shaw Group UK. Comments made at a recent team briefing by our client went as follows:

"A visit was made … by a team of 7 inspectors from the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspection Centre of Jiangsu Province, China… They examined radiographs and the End of Manufacture Data Records on both projects. In their summing up they were very complimentary about the quality of the welding and workmanship, the quality of the radiographs and diligence of the radiographic interpretation, and expressed their acceptance of the EOMRs. Thanks to all who were involved with the successful execution of these two projects."

More Congratulations
To Lee Armstrong and Paul Lemmon who passed PCN UT Rail Level 1 H2.

To Paul Lemmon, Rex Millward and Mark Hutsby who passed Rail Level 1 U5 and U10.

To Ted Peake, Paul Goss and Dan Chester who passed PCN ET Level 1 Forgings.

Welcome
To Steven Scaddan and Suzanne Chappel who both started at Ossett during October.

To Russell Weller, Adam Burke, Cliff Stevenson, Steven Harris, Gareth Tooth, Claire Goring and James Weston who all started at Burton during October. Also, welcome back to Haig Buckley.

To Philip Johnstone who started at Chesterfield during October.

Joke of the Month
A middle aged guy bought a brand new red Mercedes convertible SL500. He took off down the road, pushed it up to 90 mph, and was enjoying the wind blowing through his (thinning) hair.

"This is great," he thought and accelerated to an even higher speed. But then he looked in his rear-view mirror, and there was a Police Car behind him, red light blazing. "I can get away from him with no problem" thought the man and he floored it some more, and flew down the road at over 140 mph to escape being stopped. Then he thought, "What the hell am I doing? I'm too old for this kind of thing" and pulled over to the side of the road, and waited for the Police car to catch up with him.

The Policeman pulled in behind the Mercedes and walked up on the driver's side. "Sir," he said, looking at his watch. "My shift ends in a few minutes and tomorrow I start my vacation. If you can give me a good reason why you were speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go. "The man looked back at the Policeman and said, "Last week my wife ran off with a Policeman, and I thought you were bringing her back." The Policeman said, "Have a nice day."

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)
January to June - £150.00 (26 weeks)
July 2002 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
August 2002 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
7 September 2002 - £20.00
14 September 2002 - £0.00
21 September 2002 - £0.00
28 September 2002 - £0.00
5 October 2002 - £0.00
12 October 2002 - £0.00
19 October 2002 - £20.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

TEN PIN BOWLING AT BURTON BOWL

THURSDAY 14TH NOVEMBER AT 8.00 PM
  • 2 GAMES
  • £7.00 PER PLAYER

FANTASTIC PRIZES FOR:
  • HIGHEST MALE AGGREGATE SCORE
  • HIGHEST FEMALE AGGREGATE SCORE
  • MOST STRIKES
  • SHORTEST MINI SKIRT (GIRLS ONLY!!)

NAMES TO BURTON OFFICE PLEASE

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.

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

1) B     2) B      3) C     4) D     

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

1. Filters for black lights effectively remove:

     A. Natural white light.
     B. Radiation of a wavelength above 3000 angstrom units.
     C. Visible light from the energy given off by the mercury arc.
     D. Fluorescence from the penetrant.

2. Super-bright fluorescent penetrants may be:

     A. More sensitive in dim daylight than colour contrast penetrant materials.
     B. As sensitive in dim daylight as it is in darkness.
     C. More sensitive than normal fluorescent penetrants but they cannot be used in daylight.
     D. Less sensitive in dim daylight than colour contrast penetrant materials.

3. The use of high power spot bulbs for colour contrast penetrants:

     A. Should be avoided as too much glare may occur.
     B. Will reduce eye fatigue.
     C. Is acceptable provided the light is shielded.
     D. Is acceptable provided the light is not shielded.

4. A good penetrant must be:

     A. Inert with respect to the materials being tested.
     B. Highly viscous.
     C. Highly volatile.
     D. An inorganic base liquid.

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 Quality 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.

Quality Policy Statement
It is the aim of the company to provide a service compliant with requirements and of the highest possible quality, with particular emphasis on:

  1. Standard of operator competence, qualification and certification.
  2. Calibration of equipment and instruments.
  3. Standard and accuracy of reporting.
  4. Punctuality.
  5. Setting and meeting realistic turn-round dates.
  6. Continually improving the effectiveness of our quality management system, our processes and the services we offer.

Only operators who meet the training, qualification and certification requirements of the company's training manual shall carry out non-destructive tests.

The quality policy shall be communicated, and explained when necessary, to all company employees through induction training, newsletters, memos and the company Website.

HEALTH & SAFETY

New Health and Safety Rules
The Applied Inspection Health & Safety Rules, October 2002 issue, have been issued to every member of staff during October. They have been updated by John Morris, QHS&E Manager. Changes have been highlighted by a line in the right margin. Old issues of the rules should be destroyed. Anyone who has not yet received his or her copy should contact their supervisor or John Morris. In addition, there is a copy on the notice board at each of the company's laboratories.

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (3 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (3 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 23/10/2002

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