Innovation in Non Destructive Testing

In many established companies the pace of innovation is low. The Non-Destructive Testing sector is an example of a sector where the pace of innovation is very slow. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) refers to the set of non-invasive activities used to determine the condition of objects or installations without causing any damage. Many of the technologies used in NDT are also used in medical diagnosis, for example X-Ray photos and ultrasonic echoes. In NDT, however, they are used on plants, pipelines, bridges, aeroplanes, etc. On average, it takes 30 years to bring a new technology from idea to a commercial success which is slow even compared to sectors using similar technology. This is a problem as by this time patents are no longer valid and it will be difficult to earn back investments. Non-Destructive Testing is generally performed by a service company which has large industrial corporations as its clients. The activity is heavily regulated and is used by clients to comply with government regulations in the area of safety and management of hazardous materials. Innovation in a service company offers a complex challenge: how can the value of innovation be appropriated when faced with powerful clients and competitors that can easily copy your product. In the NDT sector an added factor is that inspections are primarily performed for the benefit of the general public, and the commercial benefit for the client is often unclear. The research was performed by modeling the roles in the innovation process, using the Cyclic Innovation Model. Four roles are identified; scientific exploration, technological research, product development and market transition. These roles are connected by four feed-forward and feedback relationships. A fifth role, the role of the entrepreneur, functions as a driver and coordinator in the innovation process. Data was collected by interviewing people active in these roles in the sector, which the aim of finding out how the roles interact, and why innovation is slow. The result of the research is a clear overview of the system errors that cause slow innovation, and a set of recommendations for policy change in the companies that are involved, towards faster innovation, more safety and more business value.

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