THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 98 - October 2002

FROM THE EDITOR

BSI Audits to ISO 9000
Four audits were carried out by British Standards Institution during September as follows:

  1. Ossett laboratory (due to move from Cleckheaton)
  2. Chesterfield laboratory
  3. Burton Laboratory
  4. Burton - site

Out of the four audits two minor non-conformities were raised. Considering the problems involved in moving laboratory (Ossett) and the extremely heavy workload experienced during the whole of this summer at all laboratories and sites, it is an excellent performance. Thanks to all staff for maintaining such a high standard, in particular Geoff Booth, Ian Bunting, Steve Redshaw, John Morris, and Bob Theaker and staff at Ossett, who all managed to maintain an excellent Quality Management System and at the same time carry out wide-ranging NDT commitments.

Also, thank you to Alan Bartlett who was subjected to the site audit by BSI. He was carrying out UAT at a train depot in Derby and the BSI auditor commented how well Alan explained the processes and demonstrated his knowledge of the company objectives.

Teamwork
The value of working together as a team cannot be underestimated. Fundamental to the success of any organisation is the realisation that the sum of the whole team is greater than the contribution made by each individual. The following quotations / slogans emphasise the value of individuals working together in teams.

QUOTATIONS / SLOGANS
  • None of us is as strong as all of us.
  • Companies don't succeed, people do.
  • Teamwork, the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
  • You become successful by helping others become successful.

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To John (Geoff) Hurst who has started at Chesterfield as NDT Engineer. Geoff, real name John but nicknamed Geoff since 1966 for obvious (football) reasons, is PCN certified to level 2 in UT welds, MT and PT.

To Laura Bartram and Teresa Geary who both joined as word processor operators at Burton.

To Carol Beatson who started on 9 September as part-time word processor operator at Chesterfield.

Overseas - China and Iran
Mark Skelland carried out ultrasonic testing of castings in Guixan, near Changxi City, China, during September. After flying from Manchester to Paris, then Beijing, Mark took an internal flight to Taiyuan (Capitol of Changxi Province), and then had to endure a 4½ hour bus ride to Guixan village.

Kim Sharp is back in Iran carrying out another welding inspection training course.

Goodbye
To Bill Wibberley who is leaving to take a senior position at Serco. His longer term aim is to start a pig farm, so Ted Peake thought of a suitable leaving present - see picture. We wish Bill all the best for the future.

Bill Wibberley's leaving present

Also goodbye to Kadir Aziz, Abhad Rashid and Andrew Robertson. We also wish them well for the future.

Joke of the Month
Three guys die and end up at the gates of heaven, talking to St. Peter.

"So," Peter asks the first guy, "how many times did you cheat on your wife?" "None, I had a perfect marriage." "Great," says Peter. "You get to cruise around heaven in a Porsche."

And you, how many times did you cheat on your wife?" "Only twice, I think," says the second guy. "Okay. You get to cruise around heaven in a Jaguar."

And you, how many times did you cheat on your wife?" "12 times, maybe 13," says the third guy. "Okay," says Peter. "You get a rusty Ford."

Later that day, the guy in the Jaguar sees the guy in the Porsche crying. "What's wrong?" "I just saw my wife." "So?" "She was driving a Lada."

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)
2000 - £270.00 (53 weeks)
2001 - £382.00 (52 weeks)
January to June - £150.00 (26 weeks)
July 2002 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
3 August 2002 - £20.00
10 August 2002 - £10.00
17 August 2002 - £0.00
24 August 2002 - £0.00
31 August 2002 - £0.00
7 September 2002 - £20.00
14 September 2002 - £0.00
21 September 2002 - £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.

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

1) A     2) B      3) C     4) D     

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

1. Localised reduction in an area of a bolt that is under overload conditions is referred to as:

     A. Sizing.
     B. Necking down.
     C. Erosion.
     D. Elongation.

2. A convex weld surface:

     A. Curves inward.
     B. Curves outward.
     C. Contains a hollow.
     D. Does both a and c above.

3. The least common location for fastener failure is:

     A. In the head to shank fillet.
     B. Throughout the first thread inside the nut on threaded fasteners.
     C. In the midgrip.
     D. At the transition from the thread to the shank.

4. Service-induced discontinuities in bolting systems may be produced by:

     A. Vibration.
     B. Over-tensioning.
     C. Corrosion.
     D. All 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 e-mail us through the company web site.

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.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Fork Lift Trucks
It is a requirement of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, 1998, that work equipment is immobilised when not in use. Therefore, when the fork lift truck is not in use (even if only for a short time) the ignition key must be removed from the switch and stored in the designated storage place to prevent unauthorised use. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for ensuring this is carried out correctly, and also for ensuring that only authorised operators use the fork lift truck.

Stress
The European Week for Safety and Health commences on 14 October and will focus on the prevention of stress in the workplace. An estimated half a million UK workers report they have been made ill by work related stress. The causes are diverse and complex but are essentially associated with the design and organisation of work.

It is important to realise that stress is the responsibility of both employer and employee alike - both must be aware of what it means and what action they can take to reduce negative effects. If detected, its cause should be diagnosed and the underlying problem addressed. Staff at Applied Inspection who identify signs of stress in themselves or others should communicate the problem to appropriate managers of directors and ensure that suitable action is taken.

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 25/09/2002

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