InspectTech: The Evident NDT Podcast

In this episode, Emilie talks with Tim Kinsella, an experienced NDT engineer in the aerospace industry. Tim has provided NDT support of in-service Dassault Falcon jets in the Western Hemisphere for 19 years, as well as managed their Structures Engineering Group. He brings 30+ years of NDT engineering experience with General Dynamics, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Lockheed Martin. Emilie and Tim discuss the importance of critical thinking when finding NDT solutions to complex problems. -- Tim Kinsella has provided NDT support of in-service Dassault Falcon jets in the Western Hemisphere for 19 years, as well as managed their Structures Engineering Group. He brings 30+ years of NDT engineering experience with General Dynamics, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Lockheed Martin, where he provided direction on manufacturing and quality development efforts for low observable materials and structures, as well as assisted in the development of filmless radiography and field applications of shearography. Tim has published numerous technical papers and was an editor and contributing author for handbooks on aerospace NDT, radiographic testing, electromagnetic testing, and materials and processes. He holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business Administration in engineering management from the University of Dallas. He attended the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aircraft Accident Investigation course and the Radar Cross Section Reduction course at Georgia Tech.

In this episode of InspectTech, Michelle Wright welcomes Dr. Peter Martin, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. They discuss Dr. Martin's experience in nuclear energy and in analyzing materials with a variety of technologies— including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers—at projects in Chernobyl, Ukraine, the US, and Japan. -- After completing his undergraduate degree in geology at the University of Bristol, Dr. Peter Martin undertook a PhD in Physics. His doctoral research included a project examining the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of March 2011, one of the worst ever nuclear accidents. During this multidimensional work, Peter used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) equipped with novel radiation detection systems to explore the meter-scale contamination trends as well as cutting-edge materials science methodologies to examine the microscopic fallout material that was released into the surrounding environment. Following a stint working in the nuclear industry and after having gained expertise in radiation detection systems and materials science, Peter obtained a highly prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Fellowship in 2020. In this research, he works alongside other international experts in the field to develop novel sensory platforms for deployment across multiple applications. Dr Martin has established himself as an international expert in nuclear materials, radiation detection, reactor accident scenarios, and radiological release incidents arising from nuclear facilities. He is frequently invited to give talks on his areas of expertise around the world, and he has worked extensively with global media outlets to give expert commentary on topical issues across the nuclear sphere.

In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie's guest is Theo Young, the founder of Refined Inspection Services, an Evident Training Member. Theo is a second-generation nondestructive testing (NDT) inspector, so he learned early on what NDT stood for and what it was all about. For Theo, NDT is not just a career, it's instilled him with a mission: to teach the basic principles of NDT and make it accessible and affordable for anyone interested in making it their career. -- Refined Inspection Services was founded in 2018 by Theo Young with the objective of offering an NDT education to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity. Mr. Young began his NDT career in 2008, as a quality control technician for National Oilwell Varco. By 2015, Mr. Young had achieved numerous NDT certifications, as well as accredited certifications, such as the AWS Certified Welding Inspector and API 570 Pressure Piping Inspector. After working with many respected subject matter experts and leaders in NDT innovation, he was encouraged to obtain his ASNT Level III certifications, the highest certification level that an NDT professional can achieve. He now holds five ASNT Level III certifications. In 2019, after completing an instructor training program, he was offered an opportunity that was a dream come true: teaching alongside his mentors as an instructor for one of the most respected NDT schools in Texas. By opening Refined Inspection Services, Theo Young fulfilled a personal goal to increase access to NDT education. Through his business, he provides up-to-date NDT training to individuals, combining education and technology with practical experience to prepare them for a range of NDT certification levels.

In this episode of InspectTech, guest host Michelle Wright talks with Todd Houlahan, Director of International Mining at Evident. In this discussion, Todd shares his expertise on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing and its applications in the mining NDT industry. Listen in as Todd shares about challenges and opportunities he's faced in the industry and his views on how XRF has evolved in the mining industry, from mineral exploration to the laboratory. Todd Houlahan graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in applied science (environmental) with a major in soils and hydrology. He then worked for 7 years as a contaminated land consultant in Australia and the UK with various companies before being introduced to handheld XRF in 2000 while remediating a Pb contaminated site in Sydney. From 2000–2004, he worked for a distributor of XRF analyzers in Australia and used handheld XRF as a consultant, a contractor, and in sales capacities on numerous geochem projects. From 2004–2008, Todd worked directly for a major XRF technology manufacturer and was integral in the mass introduction of modern X-ray tube-based units to the exploration and mining sector, supporting distributors and customers in the EMEA region. Since 2008, Todd has been the Director of International Mining at Evident and is now based out of Hertfordshire in the UK. For the past 22 years, he has dedicated his career to portable XRF (pXRF) applications in the minerals industry. His passion is best practice application of the technology, customer training, and unique and innovative pXRF applications.

Join the discussion as Emilie interviews Nikita Iliushkin and Alex Merk from Skygauge Robotics, a company leading the charge in the development of drone technology for nondestructive testing applications. Learn about the challenges and advantages of drone inspections, as well as what's coming in terms of NDT drone technology. Nikita Iliushkin is the chief commercial officer of Skygauge Robotics. Since 2016, his team has reinvented how drones fly to expand the commercial applications of drones. Under his guidance, Skygauge focused on ultrasonic testing at height as the first use case of the technology. These inspections traditionally require workers to use high-risk methods such as ropes or scaffolding. He saw that with Skygauge technology these jobs could be performed exponentially faster and more safely because workers stay on the ground. He assembled an elite group of drone pilots, UT inspectors, and industrial clients to help bring the Skygauge drone to market. His discussions with these stakeholders have given him a comprehensive understanding of their needs, enabling safe implementation of this technology at industrial sites. Alex Merk is the head of sales at Skygauge Robotics. He's spent twelve years in the NDT industry working for various NDT equipment manufacturers both domestically and internationally in sales and business development. His time in the industry has brought him in contact with every market sector around the globe and, in doing so, provided him with a unique perspective on developing customer-focused solutions. He has a passion for NDT and when he saw how Skygauge is revolutionizing the NDT industry, he jumped at the opportunity to join the dynamic and innovative team.

In this episode, we're coming to you from the 16th Asia-Pacific Conference for Nondestructive Testing in Melbourne, Australia. Experience the conference from the comfort of your home as host Graham Maxwell walks the conference floor and chats with attendees and exhibitors. Guests Mark Welland, Richard Stocker, Charles Perrie, and David Suede talk with Graham on a range of NDT subjects.

In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie welcomes Jeffrey Lattea, Advanced NDE Manager at American Piping Inspection. Jeff has been working in nondestructive testing since 2012 and is experienced in a wide variety of NDT methods. He has his ASNT Level IIIs in UT, MT, and PT as well as CSWIP GWT Level II certification. Jeff is also quite active on social media. Some of you may already follow him on LinkedIn, where Jeff likes to share his passion about NDT, often questioning the ways our industry has been doing certain things for a long time. Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode to hear Jeff's NDT rap parody “UT baby!”

In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie welcomes Ed Bryner, Director of Forward Deployed Engineering at Gecko Robotics. Ed leads Gecko's business and product development in the government and oil and gas industries. He shares with Emilie what got him interested in NDT, while serving as a team lead for NAVAIR's Anti-Submarine Warfare Division. Emilie and Ed also discuss using new technologies to find creative solutions to industry problems, such as stress corrosion cracking and challenging geometries. Listen in to hear Ed's views on the importance of better data quality, and how it leads to better analysis solutions and ultimately greater asset safety.

In this episode, Emilie meets with Eddie C. Pompa. Eddie has more than 30 years of NDT experience from working in aerospace, oil and gas, and education. He currently shares his NDT knowledge with college students during evening classes. You may know Eddie from his artwork. He's the creator of NDT Heroes—comics made with NDT physics principles in mind and featuring heroes such as Captain Capillary and Magna and villains such as Slag and Arc Strike.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Jeri Short. Jeri found NDT through her willingness to learn. When an NDT company she was working for was short on staff, she volunteered to learn on the spot and give liquid penetrant a try. Now Jeri is a certified CP-189 Level II for visual inspection (VT), magnetic particle inspection (MT), penetrant testing (PT), and ultrasonic testing (UT), a Level III Protective Coating Inspector (PCI), and a Fireproofing Special Inspector. Listen in as Jeri shares the challenges she faced (and sometime still does) working in a male-dominated industry.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Jeri Short. Jeri found NDT through her willingness to learn. When an NDT company she was working for was short on staff, she volunteered to learn on the spot and give liquid penetrant a try. Now Jeri is a certified CP-189 Level II for visual inspection (VT), magnetic particle inspection (MT), penetrant testing (PT), and ultrasonic testing (UT), a Level III Protective Coating Inspector (PCI), and a Fireproofing Special Inspector. Listen in as Jeri shares the challenges she faced (and sometime still does) working in a male-dominated industry.

In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie's guest is self-proclaimed NDT geek Marius Purcell. A Corporate NDT Level 3 who holds four ISO 9712 certifications, Marius is also sci-fi nerd who loves video games, nerf guns, and LEGO. For him, NDT and nerdiness is all interconnected. The array of sciences involved with NDT sparked a passion in Marius, fueled by an already existing love for physics and applied sciences, both within the industrial and medical sectors. Listen in to hear Marius talk about his unique perspective on NDT and how he finds fun in his daily work.

In this episode, Emilie talks with Xavier Quintanilla from Quasset. Xavier leads as the business development manager in North America and oversees day-to-day operations at the Quasset Innovation Hub in Houston, Texas. Listen in as Xavier and Emilie take a dive into innovative solutions in the world of robotics for nondestructive testing (NDT) as they discuss the SPRINT Robotics Collaborative.

In this episode, John Pariseau shares stories with Emilie from his illustrious nondestructive testing (NDT) career. John has over 20 years of experience in the piping, hydraulic, bridge, pressure vessel, and military industries as a welding and industrial coating inspector and as an NDT instructor. He also volunteers on national committees including for ASNT, AWS, ASTM, and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). In 2018, the American Welding Society (AWS) gave John an award recognizing his contribution to the science of welding inspection. Listen in to hear John and Emilie discuss some challenges of working the NDT field as well as moments that have inspired him.

In this episode of InspectTech, Emilie introduces us to Brent Moulton. Brent is one of ASNT's “Faces of NDT.” He was selected to represent our field and spread the word about the importance of nondestructive testing. Brent shares his story with us: how he got his start as an NDT inspector, his interesting career path, which has taken him all the way to Alaska, and how he wound up teaching NDT to others. He also talks about the mentors who provided him guidance and support along the way. If you're wondering how to get started in the field, this is a must listen.

In this special episode, Emilie hosts two leaders of Evident Industrial—formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions—Karen Smith and Arnold Huang. Join their discussion about the launch of Evident and the opportunities that independence from Olympus provides. Emilie covers the frequently asked questions (FAQs) from customers, partners, and employees and deep dives into what to expect in this exciting new chapter.

In this episode, Emilie welcomes Dr. Tim Stevenson. Tim is the development director and cofounder of Ionix, a world leading supplier of piezoelectric and ultrasonic sensors and transducers for extreme environments across a range of applications, including NDT, flow metering, position sensing, condition monitoring, and microfluidics. Emilie and Tim discuss different applications where high temperature sensors can be used, the misconceptions about high temperature inspection in the field, and the future of high temperature for NDT.

In this episode, Emilie is taking our listeners behind the scenes of manufacturing by discussing a lesser-known facet of building NDT equipment: UX design. Guest Antoine Viau has been with Olympus for five years as our UX designer. Tune in to learn more about his unique role in the NDT industry.

In this episode, host Emilie Peloquin chats with Kimberley Hayes. Kim has been part of the NDT industry for more than 25 years. In 2021, she founded Valkim Technologies, a company that focuses on supporting new technology adoption in a safe, reliable manner with an emphasis on the inspection industry. Listen in to hear Emilie and Kim discuss the importance of daring to innovate and understanding the pros and cons of technology innovation—or the lack thereof.

Did you attend ASNT 2021: The Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona? If you missed it or want a recap, then tune into this episode. Host Emilie Peloquin is bringing listeners along as she walks the ASNT conference floor. Listen now to get her perspective on the largest nondestructive testing (NDT) event of the year.

In this episode, host Emilie Peloquin talks with Erica Schumacher. Erica is the vice president of Extend, a distributor of CIVA NDT simulation software and TraiNDE NDE simulators. Erica shares how her career started in the military and progressed as a test examiner for penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle inspection (MT), ultrasonic testing (UT), and radiographic testing (RT). Erica and Emilie also discuss the advantages of simulators for different NDT methods and the benefits that new technologies can bring to the NDT table.

In this episode, host Emilie Peloquin welcomes Christopher Brenchley. Chris is the cofounder and CEO at Surehand, a company that focuses on reducing industrial labor shortages and underemployment in the skilled trades. Chris is also the driving force behind the Rock the Trades workforce development movement (Our very own podcast host is representing this movement by being a rocker!) Listen in to hear Emilie and Chris talk about this movement and how you can get involved.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Dr. Ajay Pasupuleti and Michael Turnbow of Ooga Technologies. Ooga Technologies aims to change the way NDT performs key tasks through the power of tech that connects NDT professionals, clients, and technology all around the world. Listen now to hear Ajay and Michael share their stories, mission, and the challenges they hope to solve in our industry going forward.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Martijn Budding, an NDT instructor and engineer at TiaT Europe in Roosendaal, the Netherlands. Martijn is passionate about NDT, bringing people together, and sharing his knowledge, so we knew we needed him on the show. Listen in to hear Emilie and Martijn discuss the inspection of composites, a material used in applications across the NDT industry.

In this episode, Emilie chats with José Geraldo Junior, NDT Specialist at Clyde Industries in Atlanta, Georgia, and creator of SmartNDT. SmartNDT shares inspection-related news and know-how on social media and invites experts on its YouTube channel and podcast to talk shop about nondestructive testing. Originally from Brazil, José Geraldo Junior has nearly 15 years' NDT experience. He's worked mainly in quality control and production in the naval industry, but also in manufacturing and oil and gas. A mechanical engineer, he is internationally qualified in conventional ultrasonics Level II and phased array ultrasonics Level II. Listen in to hear José and Emilie discuss NDT and their shared passion for industry outreach.

In this episode, Emilie's guest is Kenny Greene, President and Lead Instructor of Warrior To Inspector. Kenny has been a certified nondestructive testing inspector since 1989 and a certified ASNT NDT Level III (UT, MT) inspector since 1999. His company Warrior To Inspector is a trade school that offers its students complete training on a range of NDT methods with hands-on experience in a one-and-a-half year fast-track program. As the name implies, part of Warrior To Inspector's mission is to help military veterans transition into the civilian sector. It's reputed for producing fully trained, certified, and experienced inspectors who are placed with companies that need high-quality NDT professionals. Listen in as Kenny shares his background as well as where he got the idea and motivation for creating his company.

In this episode, Emilie's guest is the owner and chief engineer at Ruckus Composites, Shawn Small. Based in Portland, Oregon, Ruckus Composites provides repair and inspection services to owners of carbon fiber bicycles. Shawn started his company with a love of bicycle technology, a degree in mechanical engineering, and a drive to make change. Ruckus Composites' penchant for innovating and its motto “Better Service through Science” led to the discovery that ultrasonic testing (UT) could be key to serving its customers. Listen to the podcast to hear Shawn explain how Ruckus Composites uses ultrasonic thickness gauge technology to optimize the quality of its bike repairs.

In this episode, Emilie's guest is Linxiao (Lin) Yu, PhD. Lin shares his experiences in the inspection and mechanical-integrity fields and his expertise in advanced NDT technology development and deployment. With BP since 2012, Lin is the company's expert in advanced inspection technologies, providing strategic guidance as well as direct technical support to its global business. Previously, he managed Caterpillar Inc.'s corporate NDT program for its multiple manufacturing facilities. He has a PhD from Iowa State University in materials science and engineering, holds multiple ASNT Level III certifications, and is a member of ASNT committees and an industrial advisor to the ASME Robotics for Inspection and Maintenance program.

In this episode, Emilie chats with Jon Jennings and Oleg Volf from the Edison Welding Institute (EWI). Jon is EWI's Energy Market Business Development Director and is focused on delivering effective solutions to address materials joining challenges. He brings with him more than 28 years of diverse process development experience across a range of industries. With more than 30 years of experience, Oleg leads the Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) team at EWI. He develops technical scopes of work for EWI projects, builds partnerships with other technical organizations and stakeholders, and promotes EWI's technical capabilities and expertise in nondestructive testing (NDT), in-process monitoring, and quality measurement. Jon and Oleg are leading an NDT Technology & Training Consortium initiative focused on bringing together a diverse group of NDT end users, NDT technology suppliers, researchers, and stakeholders across academia and industry to positively impact NDT technology through organized and focused activities During this podcast, we experienced minor audio issues. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In this episode, Emilie's guest is John T. Iman, the current elected President of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT). John discusses his involvement with ASNT, which goes back several years. He was recognized for his continued support by his induction into ASNT's 2015 Class of Fellows. He has served as the vice chair of the Business and Finance Committee, the Director at Large on ASNT's Board of Directors, as well as the vice chair of the Technical and Education Council from 2017 through 2019. In his conversation with Emilie, John shares his belief that he owes a major part of his professional as well as personal success to the time, support, network, and, most of all, the people within ASNT.

In this episode, Emilie's guest is our own Dr. Christopher Lane from Olympus' Singapore office. Christopher is the Sales Manager for NDT Systems and Integration for the Asia-Pacific. As they discuss in this episode, not many people are familiar with the Systems and Integration side of Olympus' NDT business. To shed some light on what he does, Christopher shares a few of the most fascinating applications he's dealt with. He also offers a few insights as an expat living in Singapore on what people who are visiting might be missing.

In this episode, we welcome NDT pioneer Charles (Chuck) Hellier. A mentor and inspiration to previous guests on this podcast, Chuck has over 50 years' experience and is one of the most influential leaders in the NDT community. Listen now as Chuck discusses his story—how it all began, what he learned along the way, and what the future holds for him.

In this episode, Emilie talks with Mohamed Abufour, delving into a variety of interesting NDT-related topics, from the beginnings of PAUT to the start of the now renowned ASNT chapter in Saudi Arabia. With over 37 years of NDT experience in the oil and gas industry, Mohamed Abufour is respected by many as an eminent subject matter expert. Join them in this discussion to learn more about how he got his start in this profession and how his involvement and engagement sculpted a new landscape for the Middle East's NDT industry.

In this episode, Emilie receives Dr. Johannes Vrana to discuss an emerging topic in the industry: NDT 4.0. Dr.Vrana will define some of the new terms like NDT 4.0. , Industrial Internet of things , Digital Twin, dig data, etc. and will be breaking down these concepts by giving examples of how they apply to our NDT world..

Our guest on today's show: Tommy Bourgelas. Tommy is the Director for Portable Phased Array Products for Olympus. Don't be fooled by his youthful appearance, because Tommy has over 20 years of experience here at Olympus! Over that time, he's gained expertise on many different NDT methods and applications. In this episode, Tommy and Emilie discuss what product management truly entails, what it takes to build good reliable products, and what most people don't see from outside the manufacturing process. Recorded September 2020

In this series, we explore Level III skills training from the perspective of an inspector. Shawn Barrett is the former co-owner of Clover Field Services, LLC (CFS), located in Eastern Pennsylvania. After an asset buyout, Shawn became the NDT Supervisor for HRV, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA. In this position, he oversees a number of NDT-specific projects and applies his expertise directly toward training and mentoring NDT technicians. Shawn has been involved in signature inspection projects such as the Brooklyn Bridge (NYC), JFK Airport (NYC), Newark Airport (Newark, NJ), World Trade Center- Building (NYC), and many others. His 30+ year career in the welding and QA inspection industries is centered on his numerous credentials and certifications, including AWS CWI, AWS CWE, ASNT NDT Level 3 UT, MT, PT, ASNT SNT-TC-1a Level II UT, MT, PT, RT, and PAUT, NYSDOT UT Level II, and NACE Coating Inspector Level 3.

In this series, we explore Level III skills training from the perspective of a training center. Shane Walton, GM and Instructor at the University of Ultrasonics in Houston, TX, shares his knowledge Level III certification. Listen to Shane shares his journey, discusses the steps to progress through the levels, and provides tips to perfect your NDT skills.

In this series, we explore Level III skills training from the perspective of NDT instructors. Rodney Stephens, an NDT Instructor at Central Piedmont Community College in North Carolina, shares with us the advantages of a well-rounded NDT education and provides guidance and recommendations on the requirements for Level III certification.

Today we welcome our very own Daly Souissi to the podcast. Daly is the Market Development Manager here at Olympus for Down Stream Marketing. He is an NDT expert specializing in advanced applications and trainings. In this episode, Daly talks about his significant global NDT experience, and (spoiler alert) pirates! Recorded August 2020

Today we are talking to Marybeth Miceli. With over 25 years' experience in nondestructive evaluation and testing of civil infrastructure, Marybeth is also the President of Miceli Infrastructure Consulting (MIC), and Co-Founder and Principal of the We-NDT Marketing Network. Emilie and Marybeth discuss what it means to be actively involved in the NDT community, including the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated NDT world.

We're excited to welcome a well-known name in the NDT industry to the show. David Bajula has been actively involved in the industry and NDT community for over 39 years. Dave and Emilie talk about codes, standards and what it takes to be a good NDT inspector. Recorded June 2020

Emilie and guest Mark Davis discuss Mark's career from student to teacher, his current  projects at Veriphase, and the future of NDT through advancements in technology. Note: Olympus has an exclusive collaboration with Veriphase. Recorded May 2020