Innovations in non-destructive testing (NDT) - their role in quality management strategies in between the tension field of safety, economy and lifetime

Innovations today and inventors in NDT are mainly concentrated on developing strategies generally reducing the quality costs. The objective is to overcome technical barriers preventing up to now a price reduction by introducing new production technologies concerning the systems, hardware and software. The objective can be met by a modular design of miniaturised hardware and software components, allowing a flexible application-specific design. Examples were presented to the innovation of multiple-channel UT-systems and especially to the announcement of lowcost phased array systems and transducers available innthe near future to a comparable price as nowadays conventional systems. This will contribute to a wider application of intelligent inspection with enchanced potential for better detection and sizing of materials non-conformities. The innovations will also promote the development of multiple-channel and low-cost monitoring systems used for online component- and plant-life management. Furthermore the innovations will speed-up the introduction of NDT/NDE into automated production lines for qualified and reliable process manitoring and control. By following these trends NDT/NDE will again contribute to an enchanced but more economic safety