More manufacturing leaders have become interested in closed-loop systems. These involve the real-time analysis of continuous feedback loops associated with production. Decision-makers can use those insights to find improvement areas and track metrics. Nondestructive testing aligns with this approach because it allows people to maintain tight quality control without making products unsellable due to damage. Learn how NDT data can contribute to production data and highlight optimization opportunities.
Improve Flexibility and Efficiency When Testing Large Parts
Running nondestructive tests on massive components is time-consuming but necessary, especially when people use the examined items in tightly regulated industries. A collaborative research project tackled many associated difficulties, developing a robotic platform that boosts agility and shortens process workflows while enabling quality.
Parties from the French Institute for Technological Research and numerous industrial partners created a roboticized platform for the completed FANTOM project. It assists people in performing NDT activities on composite structures used in the aeronautics industry.
Those involved believe their work will drive innovation in nondestructive testing and reduce the need for lengthy and costly methods. The robot is also flexible enough to integrate into existing systems to boost efficiency.
This mobile robotic system autonomously inspects parts and includes many advanced end effectors to handle specific inspections. It also integrates artificial intelligence to inspect abnormalities. The accompanying operator interface allows supervision and data collection, helping workers monitor processes in progress.
Large parts offer many opportunities to collect and use test-related information for process improvements. Bringing robots into workflows supports manufacturers through labor shortages that otherwise make meeting NDT goals challenging.
Find Tiny Flaws in Expensive Items Faster
NDT takes much less time than destructive measures, so it minimizes downtime. Testers can even examine components while they remain in use. Despite the efficiency benefits, those interested in improving testing processes look for possibilities to achieve the same or better results in shorter periods. Parties become especially motivated to enhance options for high-value or in-demand products.
Representatives from AI server manufacturers know that defects can appear in the system assembly phase. Many use NDT for internal processes, plus partner with suppliers to ensure they uphold the required standards. The abundance of data generated during quality checks can shape company decisions and elevate customer satisfaction.
One manufacturer uses 3D X-ray scanners, which have increased yields by 20% because they need only a day or two to confirm root causes of issues. In one case, a foreign supplier dispute about a leaking component required the producer to conduct CT scans to learn more. Those examinations revealed microfissures. That example shows how executives can leverage NDT data, proving whether problems emerged within the factory or later.
Leaders get the best results when they choose specific aims. Those aspirations can influence internal activities by keeping employees motivated and accountable.
Use NDT Tools With High-Resolution Image Capabilities
Some NDT products have built-in features that capture valuable image data and provide more context when analyzing it. A manufacturer of measurement instruments benefited from a computed radiography scanner to check pressure-retaining welds.
Although the business previously used analog film for radiographic testing, leaders looked for alternatives. Each weld diameter spans 3-914 millimeters and has a wall thickness of 0.2-38.4 millimeters, requiring a versatile solution. The executives found a portable, digital scanner that generated images with better contrast sensitivity than the old methods. This improvement allowed testers to see greater material thickness variances and accelerate their processes because scanning image plates takes less time than conventional processing.
The scanner has integrated image filters, and people can adjust the brightness and contrast for more precise evaluations. A magnifying feature zooms in on specific regions. That capability lets users measure a weld’s joint penetration, ensuring the amount meets design specifications and does not damage the sensitive electronics underneath.
An NDT tool capturing valuable data opens process improvements for forward-thinking manufacturers. Most workers need time to adjust to new workflows, but information-backed decisions can increase executives’ confidence in enforcing standards.
NDT Data Provides Necessary Insights
Some manufacturers only make changes after experiencing significant challenges. Analyzing NDT data allows them to become more proactive and determine whether existing processes catch deficiencies well enough. Because people can examine products without damaging them, these methods support sustainability and protect the bottom line by reducing preventable waste. Investing in a dedicated analysis platform is a practical early step to increase visibility, enhance problem-solving and create or control a closed-loop system.
