THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 73 - September 2000

FROM THE EDITOR

Having gained the Investors in People award in July across the whole company we are now aiming for ISO 9002 across the whole company. The Chesterfield site has held ISO 9002 since its inception covering laboratory and site NDT, and its predecessor BS5750 before that. We are now extending it to our other sites. The Quality Manual has been issued to each site and we are now in the process of carrying out internal audits, to be followed by a management review. We will then be ready for audit from BSI, which is due in September.

Our Burton laboratory is due for a routine UKAS (NAMAS) audit at the end of August. We are confident they will sale through, but good luck anyway.

Quotation
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."
ANON

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To Akinola Akinkunmi from TWI who is undergoing on-the-job training and gaining experience under the direction of Steve Redshaw at Burton.

Ian Bunting Ties The Knot
Congratulations to Ian and his new wife Linda who married on 4th June 2000 at the Makeney Court Hotel, Derbyshire. They jetted off to the Seyschelles for honeymoon at the end of June.

Mark and Maxine Do It Again
Mark and Maxine Skelland became the proud parents of a baby boy, Nathan Jack, born on Monday 14th August 2000. He weighed 6lb 1oz.

Both mother and baby are doing fine (and Mark of course). Sister Amy is over the moon with her new little brother.

Overseas
Germany - Paul Johnstone is currently carrying out ultrasonic testing of railway axles in Rheine.

Nigeria - Alan Bartlett reaches the end of his second trip to Nigeria at the end of August. John Greenan who will be making his second trip will replace him. The two are carrying out NDT training and examinations of local people.

Congratulations
Congratulations to the following who have passed NDT examinations:

John Greenan who passed PCN Level 2 recertification examination in Radiographic Interpretation.

Pool Tournament
The Applied Inspection Pool Knockout Tournament is nearing its conclusion. Ted Peake and Paul Goss, two of the pre-tournament favourites, are already through to the semi-finals. The two outstanding quarterfinals are:

Nick Bond v Steve Wilkes Steve Redshaw v Grayham Clay

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Cleckheaton run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 32 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)
1 July, 2000 - £0.00
8 July, 2000 - £10.00
15 July, 2000 - £0.00
22 July, 2000 - £0.00
29 July, 2000 - £0.00
5 August, 2000 - £0.00
12 August, 2000 - £10.00
19 August, 2000 - £0.00
An additional £150.00 has been spent from our winnings in an attempt to win the three roll over jackpots in 1996.
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

Joke of the Month
A flea had spent the evening in the pub. At closing time he hopped out and landed flat on his face.

"Who the hell moved my dog?" he said.

GAIL THOMAS

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
BS EN 12668-3: 2000 - Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination equipment - Part 3: Combined equipment has superseded BS 4331 Part 1: 1978 which is now withdrawn.

ASME V - The 1999 addenda to the 1998 Edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V - Nondestructive Examination - was issued on 1st July 1999. It may be used beginning with the date of issuance (1st July). Addendas become mandatory 6 months after the date of issuance, except for boilers or pressure vessels contracted for prior to the end of the 6 month period.

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

1) D    2) D     3) A    4) B    

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

1. The temperature at which a blackbody must be operated, so that it's output is the closest approximation to a perfect colour match with the output of the selective radiator is called:
     A. blackbody temperature.
     B. correlated temperature.
     C. selective temperature.
     D. colour temperature.

2. The angle of vision and the distance of the eye from the test surface determine the minimum angular separation of two points resolvable by the eye. This is known as the eye's:
     A. sensitivity.
     B. resolving power.
     C. vision power.
     D. discrimination.

3. A tool that uses the wavelength of light as a unit to measure the surface contour is called:
     A. surface comparator.
     B. metallurgical microscope.
     C. interference microscope.
     D. polarised microscope.

4. The principle of solid state image devices is based on:
     A. photoelectric effect and the free electrons that are created in a region of silicon illuminated by photons.
     B. generation of train of electrical pulses that represent light intensities present in an optical image.
     C. the amount of charge in each packet that stays substantially the same.
     D. an electron beam that is used to scan a photoconductive target.

Quality at Applied Inspection
As do most other companies, 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's our Quality Policy Statement based on ISO 9002: 1994. However, when the new standard is implemented, ISO 9001: 2000, the statement will be changed to reflect the new requirements.

Quality Policy Statement:
It is the aim of the company to provide a service 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 service we offer.

As part of our commitment to provide our customers with a quality inspection service we have implemented a system which satisfies the requirements of BS EN ISO 9002 : 1994.

The quality director is the appointed management representative who, irrespective of his other responsibilities has the authority and responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of the above standard are implemented and maintained.

The directors assign authority through all Managers, Supervisors and Senior Technicians to implement the requirements of the quality system in the laboratory and on site.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Back Pain
Do you have back pain? Here are some hints from The Back Book.
· Back pain is common: it often settles down quickly and doesn't mean your back is damaged.
· In many cases taking time off work won't help. In fact, inactivity can make the problem worse.
· If back pain is causing you problems at work report this to your employer. Work together on possible ways to deal with it:
      - See if your normal work can be done a better way, e.g. by better handling methods, and use of mechanical aids.
      - Until you can resume your normal work, is there anything else you can do which is easier for your back?
      - If you have access to an occupational health or back care adviser at work they can give you advice based on carefully researched guidelines. If not, and your problem is recurring and causing problems see your General Practitioner who also has research guidelines.
· If you have to be off work don't stop using your back, and don't stay in bed, unless your doctor tells you to. Inactivity or bed rest can make your back worse.
· The Back Book (published by the Stationary Office) has helpful advice on back pain. Your GP or employer may be able to give you a copy, or you can order it from a bookshop.

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 23/08/2000

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