CANdid Conversations: Dave Pirie – ANDT    

As industries continue to look for safer, more efficient, and more data-driven asset management strategies, Advanced Non-Destructive Testing (ANDT)  is at the forefront of modern inspection practices. At CAN, our ANDT team deliver innovative inspection solutions to provide deeper insights to support informed decision-making and ultimately, operational success.

CAN’s ANDT capability spans a comprehensive range of advanced and complex inspection techniques. These include visual, magnetic, electromagnetic, ultrasonic and radiographic methods, each selected and applied based on work scope and client requirements, to achieve enhanced detection capabilities. 

Dave Pirie, CAN’s ANDT Technical Manager, explains how CAN’s ANDT services have evolved alongside technological advancements: 

“CAN has been delivering Advanced NDT for more than 30 years, with continuous development aligned to the digital era. Where we once relied on potentiometers to encode single or twin-crystal ultrasonic data, we now utilise robotic systems that capture data remotely, at far higher resolutions, and with significantly increased dynamic range compared to early 8-bit equipment”.

Data processing capabilities have progressed just as rapidly:

“Data processing has advanced at the same pace. Early semi-analogue datasets were measured in kilobytes and stored on zip drives or magnetic tape. Today, individual scans can range from hundreds of megabytes to several gigabytes, with data groups reaching terabyte scale. This evolution supports richer data integration, remote and collaborative analysis, improved visualisation, and the application of advanced analytics—ultimately enabling engineering teams to make better-informed decisions”.

While the fundamentals behind NDT techniques remains unchanged, the tools and capabilities available today have developed significantly.

“The main advantages are improved hardware; the ability to generate enhanced or alternative datasets —such as image-based reconstructions - and the capability to analyse information digitally. The physics behind the techniques have not changed; we simply now have more advanced tools and options available to us.”

Selecting the most appropriate ANDT method is critical to meeting both inspection objectives and client requirements. Dave explains the decision-making process:

“The NDT method depends entirely on the inspection objectives. Many NDT approaches can deliver comparable results so the technique is based on client requirements and the technology that can meet or exceed these. 

“Depending on the requirements, this might involve selecting a technique that provides improved defect-sizing accuracy, or one that can rapidly detect defects above a certain threshold. The key is understanding the client’s needs and applying the most robust and efficient technology.”

Advanced NDT plays a critical role in Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) strategies, working hand in hand with engineering to deliver reliable and defensible inspection outcomes. 

“Advanced NDT technologies are central to Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) methodology. NII requires that an external inspection provides a level of quality equal to or better than that achieved by internal inspection of a pressure vessel. This typically relies on advanced techniques that offer higher POD and generate digital data suitable for visualisation, assessment and metric-based evaluation.

“Digital datasets also enable the use of analysis techniques such as Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) to statistically compare inspected and non-inspected areas. Where historical data is available, comparative analysis can identify changes over time.

“If significant defects are present and Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments are needed, additional data collection is usually unnecessary—existing data can be evaluated directly against the relevant codes, whether through simple thresholding or through 3D representation for Finite Element Analysis (FEA).”

Whilst the subject matter may sound complicated, its all in a days work for our technical experts; reinforcing the corporate and individual competence we provide to our clients. 

With more than 25 years’ experience in the inspection engineering sector, Dave has played a key role in the development and growth of CAN’s ANDT capabilities:

“— In a field that continues to evolve I have continued to develop both my technical expertise and professional certifications. This has included pursuing dual certification, expanding my existing ISO 9712 PCN Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications to include the ASNT scheme, having now achieved ASNT Level III certification in UT, ET and RT. This not only strengthens the technical capability we can offer across multiple sectors but also supports our ongoing internal development and certification activities in line with our SNT scheme, particularly for bespoke methods not covered by other certification frameworks.”

To find out how we CAN support your ANDT requirements please contact inspection@cangroup.net.