| Back to MTQ'96 Report |

Major Internatinal Certification CONFERENCE - 18/19 APRIL 1996 AT NEC

The Second International Conference on Certification & Standardisation in Non-Destructive Testing (incorporating the 2nd East - West Symposium) was held on 17th and 18th April 1996, in parallel with the Materials Testing and Quality exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England.

Organised by the British Institute of NDT in co-operation with member organisations of the European Council for NDT, the conference was two day event covering international and European standards, accreditation, and personnel certification in the context of non-destructive testing and inspection.

The conference addressed a number of key questions:
- Is there consistency in the various national accreditation processes?
- Is certification of personnel alone sufficient to satisfy the recently revised BS EN ISO 9000 series of standards'?
- What further steps are necessary to remove barriers to the movement of goods and personnel across national borders?
- Is the European framework sufficient? Or is it outdated? And do we need now to look at a wider international framework?
- Can harmonisation of the different approaches adopted on each side of the Atlantic Ocean be achieved?
- How have the various European certification schemes responded to EN 45013 and EN 473? Have CEN NDT and product standards incorporated a requirement for personnel certification in accordance with EN 473 (the intention stated in that standard)?
- Has the revision of ISO 9712 harmonised the European and international approaches to personnel certification?
- Why has NDT personnel certification produced a proliferation of standards covering the same subject in diverse ways? How have recently drafted European NDT method standards affected the different national approaches to the application of NDT?
- What international and European product standards have been published (or are in draft) which will affect manufacturing and service inspection or quality system/personnel certification activities?

The conference was of interest to:
- quality and NDT management in industry
- insurance bodies and classification societies training and certification organisations
- engineers involved in specifying NDT
- contributors to NDT and product standards
- specialists involved in setting up new certification systems and
- those engaged in the development of existing certification systems

Issues of the programme

  • Harmonisation
  • Laboratory accreditation
  • Personnel certification
  • Standard experiences

    Enquiries should be addressed to The Technical Secretary, The British Institute of NDT, 1 Spencer Parade, Northampton NNI 5AA, England. Tel +44 (0)1604 30124 fax +44 (0)1604 231489 (or to John Thompson - INTERNET: 100443.24@compuserve.com)


    | Frontpage |

    ©copyright Rolf Diederichs 1.May 1996, dieder@echo.teuto.de