What is Condition Monitoring?

It is a different situation during the maintenance phase, where we talk about using non-destructive testing methods for condition monitoring.
Here, knowledge of material degradation processes—within a given environment and for a given material in a particular construction—determines which testing method(s) should be used for describing the condition. Moreover, the acceptance and rejection criteria are rarely well-defined in advance, as they depend on factors such as the design, the degree of wear, and the current operating conditions.

As a result, rejection criteria in many cases must be established based on an interaction among multiple parameters, which must be identified both qualitatively and quantitatively using different condition monitoring methods.

During the condition monitoring phase, it is often necessary to combine several testing methods in order to describe the condition of a material or component.

Thus, in the maintenance phase, it is not possible to choose the method(s) of control and acceptance/rejection criteria before having a clear, operationally and metallurgically justified understanding of which degradation mechanisms might be in play and what effect they could have on the material in question.

NDT Products

What is Production Control?

The development of non-destructive testing methods began years ago, as welding became increasingly common, creating a need to inspect weld quality.

Non-destructive testing methods such as X-ray (radiography), ultrasonic testing, penetrant testing (capillary testing), and magnetic particle testing were adopted to detect defects arising during or as a result of the manufacturing processes. These testing methods are collectively referred to as NDT – Non Destructive Testing.

As manufacturing control requirements increased over time, both method selection and procedures as well as acceptance and rejection criteria became highly standardized and are today largely defined by national and international norms and standards.

What is Quality Control?

Quality control is an important part of the use of non-destructive testing methods in the NDT industry. The purpose of quality control is to ensure that the products manufactured or used meet the requirements and specifications set for them.

Quality control covers the planning, execution, and documentation of the non-destructive tests that must be performed on a material or component. Quality control also entails ensuring that the testing methods used are validated, calibrated, and traceable to international standards.

Quality control is an ongoing process aimed at ensuring that non-destructive testing methods are reliable, accurate, and reproducible. Quality control helps improve productivity, efficiency, and safety in the NDT industry.