Top 3 Qualities of an Excellent NDT X-Ray Services Company
What do customers actually want from radiography firms they do business with, and what do they consider quality radiographic testing (RT)? Here are the top 3 qualities to look for the next time you hire an x-ray services company:
Availability
Availability is one of the primary factors which determines a customer’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with an x-ray services company. Excellent firms have the resources and corporate backing to train Level II Technicians in abundance and have sufficient Level III Technicians on staff to supervise and review fieldwork as needed. This ensures customers are not left without capacity at peak times. Moreover, it prevents additional unforeseen work and delays because crews do not need to be interchanged mid-project.
Reliability
Reliability is a key factor in determining whether your x-ray service company is top-notch. Most x-ray service companies will have an assortment of good technicians who work very fast, and subpar technicians who work slower, but what makes one company better than another is consistent and reliable performance. Having technicians that show up as scheduled and stay until they finish the project in its entirety, communicate issues properly, and have reporting that is accurate and completed on time is essential.
Lastly, your x-ray services company should have reliable equipment with the right amount of curies for your jobs, so that shot times allow for full production. Technicians should be trained to shoot the proper way so that films are reliably to code, with minimal reshoots. Your RT company should be reliable from technician performance to services provided, to reporting, equipment used, and anything in between.
Quality
The final point which separates the exceptional firms from the rest is high-quality performance. Beyond shooting good film and high production rates, high-quality performance includes going above and beyond to pay attention to safety so that assets and employees are not exposed to risk.
Achieving this level of competence starts with the corporate culture and the attention it pays to training and the establishment of quality systems that enable people to perform at their peak. Furthermore, regular audits are needed to ensure proper process execution and plan corrective action when needed.
Ultimately, high-quality performance is the end result of the previous factors described. So having a roster of exceptionally trained technicians in sufficient numbers, to provide the availability customers desire, coupled with reliable equipment and consistency across everything else including reporting, communication, and invoicing, leads to that high-quality experience you should be receiving from your x-ray services company.
At Industrial Inspection & Analysis, we expect the highest level of availability, reliability, and quality to be delivered to our customers every single day. It begins with a rigorous technician training regimen and continues through our electronic reporting and quality control systems.
