In this article we will outline some tips and advice to help avoid/fix these common issues:

Insure that you understand the failure mode of the equipment. Take the time to complete a Failure Modes Effect Analysis (FMEA) on your critical assets.

Make sure that you use the correct technology and techniques to perform a test which best identifies the specific failure defects.

Know your capabilities, know your training, use your experience and past failures to determine your current job function.

Make sure you report correctly in the NDT report, the report is what the client/company sees; provide clear defect location identification so that they can find the defect later for repair and replacement.

Design a NDT schedule that lowers risk of failure and allows for trending of trending of the data, which will help you during a process/job.

Stainless steel offers unique challenges. If you have thin walled stainless and you are using contact ultrasound be aware that metallurgical structure changes at the site of a weld can mask defects. Also identifying pitting corrosion (the most common corrosion in stainless) by thickness test is not
recommended.

Don’t limit yourself to one technology. None of the technologies, even when applied by a well trained individual in perfect conditions are one hundred percent accurate.

By applying multiple technologies and complementary techniques you increase your accuracy. You might consider using Magnetic Particle Testing or Inspection (MPI) with contact ultrasound.

These tips and tricks and possible issues could help you with your next or current job.