JetSoft is pleased to announce the delivery of a bespoke software application to a leading Dutch aerospace company.

The >100 year old company had identified a risk with inspection data that left them relying on discontinued, unsupported software. The DOS operated, legacy, automated ultrasonic equipment was supplied by a now defunct company, but operated and inspected components efficiently. However, the vast data collected over the lifetime of the machine was only viewable on the scanner itself.

There is a regulatory requirement that the inspection data should be viewable at any time, during the life of the aircraft. JetSoft was able to harness its unique skillsets in software, data formats and NDT to reverse engineer the inspection data files and convert them to a standard format. The bespoke application is simple to use and dynamically converts files, which can then be viewed and read on other operational equipment. This removed the risk and extended the operating life of the machine.

JetSoft is a software company that specialises in NDT data, with an aim to improve the accessibility and efficiency of this undervalued resource that has the potential to revolutionise manufacturing.

We welcome questions and comments, and please get in touch to see how we could help you.

What is DICONDE?
JetSoft is a proponent of the ASTM proposed Digital Imaging and Communication in Non Destructive Evaluation (DICONDE) standard. DICONDE provides a detailed common format for the way Non-Destructive evaluation data is stored and communicated.

“DICONDE is an evolving standard that provides a way for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) manufacturers and users to share image data.”
“The DICONDE standard encompasses all NDE specific imaging methods and technologies, such as infrared thermography, ultrasound, computed radiography, computed tomography, eddy current, and acoustic emission”
https://www.astm.org/SNEWS/OCTOBER_2003/voelker_oct03.html

DICONDE is based on the extremely comprehensive and ubiquitously used medical DICOM standard, which has been in use since the 1980s.
 
Why is it important?
DICONDE is important and useful for several key reasons including:

• Interoperability
  DICONDE allows different items of equipment to talk to each other, DICONDE removes the need to have duplicate equipment (and knowledge to operate and maintain that equipment) for all the different formats and technologies that you may currently operator.
• Legacy
  In aerospace, inspection records must be kept for up to 30 years, which means that equipment and methods for opening those inspection records must be maintained for the same period. This can be a major concern if a supplier stops trading or supporting a data format, because DICONDE is an open standard, this concern is removed.
• Data flow
  DICONDE allows the free flow of data to key partners, with the ability to open and view the data without need for common software.
• Key supplier reliance
  DICONDE removes reliance on key suppliers, the data produced and the software to evaluate that data can be easily sourced. 

 
How does OverSeer use DICONDE?
JetSoft’s OverSeer software is a DICONDE Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) which accepts and outputs both DICONDE files and communication streams. OverSeer acts as a hub for all NDT data and allows this data to flow seamless around the digitally connected manufacturing environment.
 
A final warning
A key component of DICONDE is its private tags which allow vendors to encode data within the file but outside of the standard. The intention of this is to give flexibility, but it can be abused and can effectively break the standard, remove any benefit and bring back the reliance on that vendor. When working with any partner that claims to support DICONDE ask for their private dictionary, which details all the private tags they use. JetSoft will happily give a copy of their private dictionary on request, and be extremely wary of anyone who will not.

What is a PACS?

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) provide central storage and access to images from multiple sources across multiple techniques. The Picture in the PACS acronym is a bit of a misnomer as PACS don’t just deal in pictures. They also contain all the data around that picture, including when/by who/how that picture was taken. It contains that critical, contextual information that is written on the back of an old photograph.

 
Where are they used?

PACS are used extensively and ubiquitously in the medical world, enabling a plethora of medical practitioners to offer a smooth patient centric service. PACS act as a hub in the network of collection equipment and viewing terminals, allowing the collectors of data and the evaluators to work at arms length. Medical images can be transferred electronically and so instantaneously to wherever the patient requires them. Medical PACS revolve around the DICOM standard, and are very mature, having been first developed in the 1970s.
 
What are the benefits?

This is great for the medical industry, but why do we need them for industrial NDT? Well, we do but for different reasons, reasons that are becoming more critical and useful.

Unlike the medical industry manufacturing is production, not component centric. In the DICONDE format – the NDT equivalent of DICOM standard – component is analogous for patient, except the component is not normally a repeat customer and the suite of tests in manufacturing are generally prescribed and linear, and diagnosis is normally subject to quantifiable standards.

However, industry can benefit from PACS technology in other ways. As projects become more global (such the countries participating in the F35 project), and companies become more likely to have an off site level 3, stakeholders or critical NDT decision makers are not in the same location as the inspection. In this case a PACS helps to make the flow of data and communication more efficient, reducing the time needed to make a decision thus making manufacturing more efficient.

NDT image data quantity is expanding and becoming more complex, both in terms of volume and size, and quite often management of that data will incorrectly fall on to the NDT department. They have the impossible task of managing continuous data generation across many different proprietary formats from multiple locations and techniques. A good PACS will order this data automatically, make this data manageable, and provide quick and easy search and view functions, reducing the time demands on key NDT personnel allowing them to work more effectively.
 
Where can I get one?

JetSoft’s OverSeer is a PACS solution that specialises in NDT information. OverSeer can automatically read and understand many different formats from multiple suppliers and techniques, reducing resources absorbed with data management. OverSeer is DICONDE compliant and so can both input and output DICONDE information and can act as a DICONDE converter for your existing data.

OverSeer’s database with web interface makes it easy to search and find inspections by their contextual information, for example all the scans done on a particular piece of equipment, by a certain operator or with a particular defect.

OverSeer goes further than a standard PACS and offers Business Intelligence functionality, allowing performance of Statistical Process Control (SPC), trend analysis, and full health check of the NDT department.

By using OverSeer and having NDT information in a central database allows us to perform some new types of analysis, including data fusion, automatic defect recognition, or dataset analysis. An example of this was a defect heatmap that was recently performed for a JetSoft customer, which provided new insight and enlightening results

For more information or to arrange a demonstration please get in contact with JetSoft.

http://www.jetsoft.co.uk/contact.html

JetSoft is pleased to announce the delivery of OverSeer and EyeView to one of the world’s largest aluminium manufacturers.

OverSeer automatically reads and databases their inspection data. Operating across multiple techniques including Ultrasound and Conductivity and integrating to their Electronic Daily Management (EDM) system. OverSeer reads both new inspection data in real time as well as archiving their existing data collection with no down time to production. The scalable system currently holds over 65000 inspection records, with no effect on speed or usability.

This vast database of inspection data has quickly enabled JetSoft to provide some unique insights. For example, the dashboard visualisation that collected defect information across years’ worth of inspections in seconds, and depicts a 3D heatmap of defect locations, provided intriguing and surprising results, sparking a big debate within the office.
OverSeer’s unique and highly configurable dashboards allow users to isolate data on any criteria, so users can look at these statistics for individual alloys, furnaces or defect types.

Meanwhile EyeView is facilitating the viewing and analysis of inspection data. This is administered straight from the server using a web browser, for zero-install and remote access, instantly allowing access (via VPN) from home or different sites.

A key feature that has been developed in conjunction with the customer is our new validation module. This enables rules to be set up, notifying the user in real time should certain criteria be met. Examples include: alerting if a reference panel scan doesn’t occur within a specified period, if operators are not following the correct procedures, or if a part is scanned that contains a certain defect. Previously, these checks were undertaken manually, and consequently a big time efficiency has been realised.

Conversations are happening with the client regarding piloting JetSoft’s new machine learning module that integrates in other process data, drastically reducing scrap rates. More information on this to come.

To say the customer is happy is an understatement, and we are currently in discussions about rolling out JetSoft solutions across other sites.

JetSoft is a software company that specialise in NDT data, with an aim to improve the accessibility and efficiency of this under-valued resource, that has the potential to revolutionise manufacturing.

We welcome questions and comments, and please get in touch to see how we could help you.

I’m immensely proud to say I work in NDT. It is an industry which extraordinarily manages to maintain a community feel whilst operating worldwide, across multiple industries and technologies. It is flexible and embraces innovation, yet maintains strict standards and it is a safe space where ideas are met with respect and support. It is a joy to work in.  

These fantastic qualities and innovative nature are in large due to the makeup of the companies that provide NDT resources. Anyone that has attended the myriad of exhibitions or read any of the industry press will know that there are endless companies, offering bespoke services and pioneering solutions. It is extremely competitive, and these companies can only survive by being innovative and creative; providing solutions to make inspection, easier, faster or more effective.

This link between competition and innovation was highlighted by Edward de Bono (creator of the widely praised lateral thinker technique).
 “As competition intensifies, the need for creative thinking increases. It is no longer enough to do the same thing better . . . no longer enough to be efficient and solve problems.”
 

The current state of NDT should be revered and every effort should be made to maintain it. However, a threat looms large. I wrote previously about how NDT is about to become even more important, which looked at the value of the data produced by NDT and how it is set to revolutionise manufacturing. The disruption caused by this revolution is set to disturb the balance and potentially upset the innovative culture we currently enjoy.

The larger equipment manufacturers, most notably GE have been using their vast resources to invest incredibly heavily in developing solutions to facilitate data integration. This investment is on such a large scale that most of their competitors cannot compete. This vertical integration of data and equipment has the potential for them to monopolise the market or at the very least dictate terms to the smaller more innovative specialist companies.


JetSoft is an independent company that links NDT resources with manufacturing processing systems. We partner with equipment manufacturers to help them in various ways, including:

• providing solutions for integrating data which adds value to products
• additional revenue streams through reseller opportunities
  
• allowing partners to focus on innovation and specialising in NDT
• increasing awareness by advertising that our partners are preferred suppliers

JetSoft’s core skill sets lie in NDT data and software development, we’re passionate about the potential of NDT whilst maintaining the innovative and specialist nature which is so important in the industry.

JetSoft works collaboratively to ensure that our solution fits your individual and specific circumstances. So, if you’re the producer or owner of NDT data please get in contact to see how we can help you integrate your NDT information.  We look forward to working with you in the future.