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Inspection Trends - January 2011 - Winter

News Bulletins Ultrasonic Phased Array Testing Played Part in Rescuing Chilean Miners A company in Edmonton, Alb., Canada, played a role in the rescue of the 33 miners who were trapped in the San Jose copper and gold mine in Chile. All 33 of the miners were rescued in October 2010 after spending 69 days trapped in the mine. Metalogic Inspection Services used its Metaphase ultrasonic phased array testing equipment to inspect the welds on the metal pipe that was inserted into the shaft that was used to reach the miners. The capsule that was used to carry the workers up to the surface was inserted into the pipe. “We actually preinspect the weld,” said Quintin Bower, Metalogic’s corporate business development manager, according to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Center. “So as they are manufacturing the pipe and putting it into the ground, we will do a full circumferential scan of the weld. They push it down deeper, and they put another joint in and so forth until they got the complete weld inside the shaft that they drilled.” Bower said the company gathered staff and resources from Edmonton, Brazil, and Thailand to help with the operation. ASQ Manufacturing Outlook Survey Shows Growth The second annual ASQ Manufacturing Outlook Survey shows the majority of manufacturers are optimistic about an economic uptick in 2011 at their organizations — a slightly brighter outlook than for 2010. The survey was conducted by the American Society for Quality, Milwaukee, Wis. The survey results showed 68% of respondents employed in the manufacturing sector predict their organizations will experience revenue growth. A year ago, 64.7% of respondents said revenue would grow in 2010. The two areas from the survey that showed the most promise were in the areas of payroll and operational budgets. Only 18% expect a pay freeze at their organizations in 2011 compared to 44.8% in 2010, and 18% predict mandatory budget cuts this year as compared to 35.2% in 2010. Of the other options surveyed, respondents anticipate the following: • Expectations of a salary/merit increase (48%). • Organizations will continue to create processes to reduce costs (47%). That’s down from 61.3% in 2010. • Maintaining current staff levels at their organizations (42%). • Hiring of additional staff (42%). • No mandatory furlough days (73%). In 2010, 72% 8 Inspection Trends / January 2011 indicated they did not have to take furlough days. The survey questioned whether staff reductions or other cutbacks implemented in 2010 negatively impacted the quality of the products/services delivered. Thirty-three percent of respondents believed the quality of their products and/or services was negatively impacted, and 32% believed quality did not suffer. Respondents were also asked what one tip they would give to manufacturers to ensure revenue growth in 2011. The top four tips, which are similar to those listed in the 2010 outlook, are as follows: • Continue to take part in continuous improvement practices, and increase use of quality processes; • Increase customer satisfaction; • Implement more lean processes; • Reduce costs/eliminate waste. “Though it appears the manufacturing sector is still facing some challenges on the road to full economic recovery, the incremental gains shown in this survey are very promising,” said ASQ Chair Peter Andres. “However, organizations still need to focus on and increase customer satisfaction, and implement continuous improvement practices to remain competitive.” TÜV SÜD America Offering NDE Personnel Approval Services TÜV SÜD America, Inc., Peabody, Mass., a global inspection and certification services organization, now offers NDE personnel approval services in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) (97/23/EC). The company will act as a recognized third-party organization (RTPO) according to Article 13 of the PED through TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH, ensuring that personnel who inspect welds on pressure equipment in Categories III and IV meet all the outlined requirements and have passed all theoretical and practical exams. Services include testing by U.S.-based personnel of the applicants through Level IIIs in the respective discipline using procedures described in CEN TR 15589. Currently, the company is the only Notified Body in North America additionally authorized as an RTPO. E&E Mfg. Earns A2LA Accreditation E&E Manufacturing recently earned accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). The accreditation covers both ferrous and nonferrous metals and is to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards. “In addition to the testing we’ve offered for years, this


Inspection Trends - January 2011 - Winter
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