[4C5] Not NDE 4.0 but NDE N_Ext for future labs
P Wadyalkar
OMS Software Pty Ltd, Australia
NDE 4.0, derived from Industry 4.0, has been a buzz word for the past few years.
While some have already commenced using the term ‘Industry 5.0’, our industry is still struggling to adopt a path of NDE 4.0 and beyond, not because NDE 4.0 is not feasible but because most IT/instrument providers are not considering the entire ecosystem to offer a comprehensive solution that can meet the needs of laboratory and staff, their clients, dependent suppliers, their accreditation requirements, regulatory body, taxation, etc.
Thinking about just NDT and disregarding other testing fields (metallurgy, mechanical and chemical testing) or allied services (survey, heat treatment) conducted by the same laboratory cannot entice our industry to adopt non-destructive testing (NDT)-related cyber-human IT programs.
As an entrepreneur, founder and owner of the largest privately owned Australian laboratory business, the author has faced many challenges as the past service provider in the field of inspections, NDT, metallurgy, mechanical and chemical testing, survey and allied processes. Our industry cannot become efficient by using several fragmented generic NDT apps developed by either an individual major instrument manufacturer or some software provider.
The author wishes to share his insights about the industry needs and why the concept of NDE 4.0 will not be adopted by the industry until we change our outsight about true needs, go beyond the NDE 4.0 framework and adopt a true ecosystem based on overall ‘NDE N_ Ext’.
The term ‘NDE N_ Ext’ will indicate comprehensive objectives and the end goals by denoting meaning for each word in the term. It includes an ever-evolving lab’s objective, to consider NDT and beyond for several other interconnected testing fields, their operations and management systems.
The author will share an infrastructure model about true ‘NDE and extension’, wherein the entire ecosystem in and around a lab is cyber-human-cyber linked or possible to link with other industry 4.0 (and beyond) entities.
Some facts will be shared, including a couple of success stories about the true ecosystem that is being used by many NDT companies in Australia. It will indicate gross savings achieved by these entities, utilising digital automation that is cyber communicating with other entities or can connect with other cyber-ready entities.
While some have already commenced using the term ‘Industry 5.0’, our industry is still struggling to adopt a path of NDE 4.0 and beyond, not because NDE 4.0 is not feasible but because most IT/instrument providers are not considering the entire ecosystem to offer a comprehensive solution that can meet the needs of laboratory and staff, their clients, dependent suppliers, their accreditation requirements, regulatory body, taxation, etc.
Thinking about just NDT and disregarding other testing fields (metallurgy, mechanical and chemical testing) or allied services (survey, heat treatment) conducted by the same laboratory cannot entice our industry to adopt non-destructive testing (NDT)-related cyber-human IT programs.
As an entrepreneur, founder and owner of the largest privately owned Australian laboratory business, the author has faced many challenges as the past service provider in the field of inspections, NDT, metallurgy, mechanical and chemical testing, survey and allied processes. Our industry cannot become efficient by using several fragmented generic NDT apps developed by either an individual major instrument manufacturer or some software provider.
The author wishes to share his insights about the industry needs and why the concept of NDE 4.0 will not be adopted by the industry until we change our outsight about true needs, go beyond the NDE 4.0 framework and adopt a true ecosystem based on overall ‘NDE N_ Ext’.
The term ‘NDE N_ Ext’ will indicate comprehensive objectives and the end goals by denoting meaning for each word in the term. It includes an ever-evolving lab’s objective, to consider NDT and beyond for several other interconnected testing fields, their operations and management systems.
The author will share an infrastructure model about true ‘NDE and extension’, wherein the entire ecosystem in and around a lab is cyber-human-cyber linked or possible to link with other industry 4.0 (and beyond) entities.
Some facts will be shared, including a couple of success stories about the true ecosystem that is being used by many NDT companies in Australia. It will indicate gross savings achieved by these entities, utilising digital automation that is cyber communicating with other entities or can connect with other cyber-ready entities.
