BS EN ISO 9712 requirements for Product Technology
15/04/2024
BS EN ISO 9712 mandates that all conditions for certification shall be met before the issue of certification to the aspirant PCN candidate by the certification body (BINDT). Requirements are such that the aspirant PCN candidate shall have successfully completed an approved course of training, satisfied the requirements for practical industrial experience and demonstrated their theoretical knowledge and practical ability within a relevant PCN certification examination.However, before the aspirant PCN candidate presents for approved training at one of BINDT’s Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), the international standard BS EN ISO 9712 requires the candidate to demonstrate prior knowledge of mathematics and materials and processes (also known as product technology). Where this is not the case, the minimum training times quoted within
BS EN ISO 9712:2022 shall be extended to ensure the candidate has been equipped with the required knowledge to ensure that they meet minimum industry expectations prior to carrying out NDT within the industry sector for certification.
The minimum duration of NDT method training undertaken by the candidate for certification shall impart the skills and knowledge within the method for certification and shall not be less than quoted times in Table 1.
Table 1. Minimum training requirements
| NDT method | Level 1 / days | Level 2 / days | Level 3 / days |
| AT | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| ET | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| LT | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| MT | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| PT | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| RT | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| ST | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| TT | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| UT | 8 | 10 | 5 |
| VT | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| a) One day’s duration is at least seven hours, which can be achieved on a single day or by accumulating hours. b) For RT, training does not include radiation safety training. | |||
The training days shown in Table 1 are based upon candidates possessing mathematical skills and prior knowledge of materials and processes, where knowledge can be confirmed by appropriate screening of completed prior education. Where this is not the case and prior knowledge cannot be confirmed by screening of education, BS EN ISO 9712 confirms that additional training on this matter may be required to be implemented by the certification body. In this regard, BINDT has developed an online/blended learning package for materials and processes. The content within this article has been provided to inform all prospective and current PCN certificate holders with the latest information on this requirement.
Background
Industry demand and the requirements contained within the international standard ISO 9712 led BINDT’s Certification and Management Committee (CMC) to mandate the formation of a BINDT materials and processes working group to address the issue.
CMC identified that a fresh, modern, up-to-date and interactive blended learning package for materials and processes should be developed and that prior to attempting approved NDT method training, candidates would be expected to achieve success in the mandatory blended learning module for materials and processes.
The training module requires aspirant PCN candidates to have successfully completed the training package before demonstrating success in an end-of-course assessment, confirming knowledge of materials science and processes and the associated discontinuities that an NDT operative might encounter when deploying NDT within an industry and or product sector(s).
Typical industry sectors may include:
- Manufacturing.
- Pre- and in-service testing, which includes manufacturing.
Typical product sectors may include:
- Castings.
- Forgings.
- Welds.
- Non-metallic materials – composites.
CMC discussion conclusions
A dedicated materials and processes syllabus should be developed and, by adopting a modular approach, candidates could in theory work at their own pace, dipping in and out of the modular structure as and when time allowed. A second requirement was that the delivery of the course should be via links provided on the BINDT website leading the candidate to material hosted by a dedicated learning management system and that all material shall be ready for release to coincide with revisions made to PCN scheme documentation (PCN24) to meet the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712:2022.
The tender process
Initial scope dictated that a project brief should be produced and that the tender process should be adopted in order to identify potential partners capable of developing the required material for delivery over an interactive platform in a cost-effective manner. The Institute received tenders from several potential industry partners and, whilst remaining impartial at all times, selected the organisation Wilkinson Coutts as the project lead.
Course material development
Wilkinson Coutts, in line with the initial project brief, went on to develop all online study material required to equip the aspirant NDT Technician with the knowledge that will ensure increased capability to select the correct NDT method and technique required to reveal those relevant manufacturing and/or in-service discontinuities sought during testing.
Main course learning modules include learning on (which is further subdivided):
- Industrial materials.
- Manufacturing processes.
- An introduction to non-destructive testing (NDT).
Learning material includes the use of:
- Video presentations.
- High-resolution images and graphics.
- Interactive reading material requiring candidate interaction both during the blended learning element and in addition throughout end-of-course assessments.
- Traditional use of multiple choice-type answer questions.
- Questions requiring candidates to select the most appropriate images and place them alongside relevant text.
So, as you can see, the interactive element within each individual learning module is designed to stimulate the candidate’s senses in order to make learning enjoyable and to ensure that the candidate retains the required information at the end of each module assessment.
Examples of such imagery/module interactions include:
- Use of video presentation media:
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- Use of modern and up-to-date imagery:
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- Use of interactive questions requiring candidates to drag and drop text into a relevant image box.
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- Use of traditional multiple choice type questions and answers.
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The Materials and Processes blended learning course is scheduled to go live on 1 July 2024. It has been agreed that there will be a nominal charge (yet to be decided) required to ensure that the Learning Management System hosting fees can be covered and that the course for all new PCN entrants shall be mandatory. Although the Institute would also recommend for those persons who simply wish to refresh their knowledge of materials and processes that participation on the blended learning course would be an efficient and enjoyable way to do so.
