THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 109 - September 2003

FROM THE EDITOR

Holiday Season

This Newsletter is early this month due to the holiday season being upon us. The directors wish to thank all Applied Inspection staff for their efforts over the holiday period in coping with the variations in workload that occur during the holiday season due to the need to cover for staff holidays and customers' shutdowns etc.

Dinala Sponsor Update

Dinala Mbewe

As you are aware from previous NEWSLETTERS, Applied Inspection sponsors Dinala Mbewe through Plan International. Dinala is 8 years old and lives in Eastern Zambia with her family.

Dinala's mother, Medi, told Plan International's community volunteer Boniface Banda that Dinala enjoys making models, dancing and singing, and continues to help her family to fetch firewood for the house. Although Dinala is already attending school, she is not able to write her own letters yet, but we hope that she will be able to send a message in the not too distant future.

She has started primary school and her performance over the last year has been good. Her favourite lessons are mathematics and drawing. She travels by foot, which takes her approximately one and a half hours to get there.

Dinala's family use a hole in the ground for their toilet facilities. Their water comes from an open well, but there is not enough water at some times of the year. The water is not safe to drink due to lack of appropriate treatment.

We are told by Plan International that our contributions help to fund community projects that benefit children and their families.

For more information about Dinala contact Ted Peake at our Burton Office.

PERSONNEL

Ten Pin Bowling at Burton Bowl
There was an excellent turnout at the bowling evening at Burton on Thursday 14th August. Six teams took part. The 'Fantastic prizes' on offer (Box of Thorntons Chocolates) were won by:

Congratulations
Leigh Clark has been appointed laboratory manager at Burton, and Ben Wright has taken his place as laboratory supervisor.

More Congratulations
To Steve Wilkes who passed both ASNT and PCN Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing (Castings) during August.

To Steve Redshaw and Fred Hawksworth who both passed rail safety controller of site safety (COSS) examinations.

To Paul Burton and Adam Burke who both passed Railway Axle Testing UAT1.

Joke of the Month

The following are signs and notices in different parts of the world:

Hong Kong tailor shop - "Ladies may have a fit upstairs"
Bangkok dry cleaner - "Drop your trousers here"
Paris dress shop - "Dresses for street walking"
Rhodes tailor shop - "Order your summer suit because in strict rush, we will execute customers in strict rotation"
Swiss restaurant - "Our wines leave you nothing to hope for"
Japanese hotel - "You are invited to take advantage of the Chambermaid"

From Pat Slater

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)
2002 - £330.00 (52 weeks)
January 2003 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
February - £0.00 (4 weeks)
March - £20.00 (5 weeks)
April - £40.00 (4 weeks)
May - £10.00 (5 weeks)
June - £0.00 (4 weeks)
5 July - £10.00
12 July - £10.00
19 July - £10.00
26 July - £0.00
2 August - £10.00
9 August - £10.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
The following ASME code sections V and IX have been updated (Blue sheets):

ASME V : 2001 - ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V - Nondestructive Examination - 2003 Addenda issued.

ASME IX : 2001 - ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX - Qualification Standard for Welding and Brazing Procedures, Welders, Brazers, and Welding and Brazing Operators - 2003 Addenda issued.

ASTM A 388/A 388M - 03, Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Heavy Steel Forgings, has superseded ASTM A 388/A 388M - 01.

BS EN ISO 10012: 2003, Measurement management systems - Requirements for measurement processes and measuring equipment, has been amended (AMD 14611, Corrigendum No. 1).

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

1) D     2) C      3) D     4) A     

Here are some more questions, this time on Eddy Current Testing:

1. Which of the following is a property of eddy currents induced in a homogeneous conductor by an encircling coil?

     A. They are weakest on the conductor surface.
     B. The phase of the eddy currents varies throughout the conductor.
     C. They travel in straight lines.
     D. They are maximum along the coil axis.

2. Which factor does not affect the phase shift between the transmitted signal and the reflected signal for a reflection-type coil (assuming the part is nonferromagnetic)?

     A. The conductivity of the sample.
     B. The magnitude of the transmitted signal.
     C. The thickness of the sample.
     D. The presence of defects of the sample.

3. Lift-off certainly reduces the amplitude of the flux leakage signal. The other significant effect it has on the signal is a change in:

     A. Phase.
     B. Frequency.
     C. Increasing lift-off which reduces the apparent width of the defect.
     D. None of the above.

4. The tubular product parameter having the greatest influence on the flux density of the magnetic field in the part (assuming the magnetizing force, H, remains constant) is the:

     A. Surface roughness of the product.
     B. Diameter of the product.
     C. Wall thickness of the product.
     D. Length of the product.

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 Mission 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.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to make Applied Inspection the best service inspection company in the world. We will provide our customers with a high quality NDT service at an economic price through an ongoing system of quality improvements in all areas of the company's activities. We will promote co-operation internally between divisions and individuals and externally between our staff and our customers and suppliers. The company's intention is to continually strive for higher levels of:

Quality improvements will be achieved through education and training leading to greater empowerment of the workforce.

The strength of the whole workforce is the most effective way of meeting or exceeding the requirements of all of our customers, enabling us to become the best of the best.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Accident Book
A revised version of the accident book that complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998 is now in use in all locations. The new book allows individual report sheets to be removed and stored in a secure location.

Working on Trailers
Applied Inspection operators are occasionally asked to carry out NDT on structural steelwork that has already been loaded onto a trailer. Before carrying out the inspection work the following must be observed:

Always remember that ladders are for access only and must be secured. If you have any doubt, contact John Morris (QHS&E Manager) at Chesterfield (Mobile: 07814 021345) or your supervisor.

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (4 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 15/08/2003

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