Safety and reliability standards across manufacturing industry could be compromised, if the number of engineers specialising in NDT (non-destructive testing) and condition monitoring techniques continues to decline.
That's the warning from the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT), whose CEO Cameron Sinclair says: "The UK punches above its weight in NDT and CM, but we are becoming increasingly aware of an emerging skills shortage."
Sinclair's comments follow publication of The Foresight (2013) report 'The Future of Manufacturing: A new era of opportunity and challenge for the UK' and the Perkins' Review into UK engineering, which calls for a co-ordinated, long-term strategy to increase the supply of engineers at both professional and technician level.
Sinclair worries that many skilled and experienced engineers are rapidly reaching retirement age, and that, without action to change current trends, too few young people are choosing to enter the profession to replace them.
"Too few young people are pursuing careers in engineering. Of those, even fewer specialise in NDT and CM. This needs to change if the UK is to maintain its position as a world leader in these engineering disciplines," remarks Sinclair.
He points out that, although largely unseen, NDT and CM are used throughout manufacturing industry and way beyond.
"The ramifications of an NDT and CM skills shortage are profound," asserts Sinclair. "A lack of qualified NDT and CM engineers could result in safety and reliability standards being compromised."
