Ideas Part 2 – Implementation
by Bernard McGrath, Inspection Validation Centre

The PANI 3 experimental work found that there was a correlation between an operator's score on the personality scale measuring original thinking and his performance on the ultrasonic task: the higher the score on original thinking, the higher the error in the ultrasonic task. Unfortunately, modern society places a high value on original thinking, equating it with excitement and success. Yet in most day-to-day repetitive but safety-oriented tasks, original thinking will be a definite disadvantage. When I am on an aeroplane, I'm always glad that the pilot is not an original thinker and we land safely on all three wheels. So the conclusion of the PANI 3 project makes sense.

However, last month I asked you to e-mail the editor or myself with any idea to improve NDT which you may have had. And guess what? Yes, that's right. The response shows that NDT personnel, or those that read this column anyway, are not original thinkers. No need to worry there then. Well, it is either that or they rarely take a bath (see last month) or they have such good ideas that they want to reap the benefits themselves without sharing. The trouble is people think that generating an idea is all that's needed and that they should be rewarded for just doing so. Unfortunately, the idea is just the first step. Implementing the idea, and implementing it successfully so it becomes an innovation, requires a lot of hard work and determination.

A couple of months ago there was a radio report about a new software package that Microsoft had patented. The application filed by the company was for a 'unique monitoring system' that links workers to their computers via wireless sensors. The sensors will measure heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure. Microsoft claims that the system would allow managers to monitor employees' performance and take actions to better look after their health and well-being.

There is nothing wrong with the basic premise of this idea, ie using technology to provide useful information about your body. In fact, many of you may already have such equipment: heart rate monitors to assist you in your physical training; blood pressure monitors and blood sugar monitors to control any medical conditions. The problem is the proposed basis for the implementation, which is the belief that only managers can look after the employee's health and the belief that they need technology to help them do it. This approach has already run into trouble with unions who fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer's assessment of their physiological state.

NDT performance could benefit from physiological measurements. Military research has shown that blood pressure or skin conductance is related to a person's ability to concentrate. As these two factors increase, the worse target detection gets. It was suggested that changes in skin conductance could be used to activate devices which would boost the alertness of a drowsy observer. But there are other ideas which involve looking after a person's health to boost performance which do not rely on investment in technology. Similar military work showed that men who had breakfast, no matter how light, did significantly better on target detection than those who had no breakfast or only a cup of coffee.

So, providing breakfast, breakfast facilities or ensuring operators had some breakfast before going on a job would have the double benefit of improving concentration and showing that the employer cares about their employees and their performance. There is a simpler idea which could have the same effects. You will all have seen the advertisement for a well-known sports drink which shows how much performance suffers for only a small amount of dehydration. Surely, the same applies to undertaking NDT and operators working in hot and stressful environments will be susceptible to dehydration. I had thought about testing this during the PANI project but I considered asking operators to record the colour of their urine mid-test was a step too far! Anyway, we all know the health benefits of staying hydrated so why don't we do something pro-active about it?

The PANI 3 report contains a lot of ideas that have been implemented by NDT companies and has information and data which could help generate other ideas for improving NDT. The report has now been published and can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr617.htm or follow the link from the BINDT website (www.bindt.org).

Dip into it and implement the ideas which can help you. Who knows, you might not need Microsoft's big brother software.

Please note that the views expressed in this column are the author’s own personal ramblings for the purpose of encouraging discussion within the NDT Newspaper. They do not represent the views of the IVC, Serco Assurance or the HSE who funded the PANI projects.

Letters can be mailed to The Editor, NDT News, 1 Spencer Parade, Northampton NN1 5AA. Fax: 01604 231489; E-mail: ndtnews@bindt.org or e-mail Bernard McGrath direct at Bernard.McGrath@sercoassurance.com