Polymer Testing 7 (1987) 1-2

Editorial

The thought of a new year and the start of Volume 7 was enough to cause me to reflect on the water under the bridge of 1986 and indeed the trends and developments of the last few years. It sometimes seems odd that whereas one is very conscious of individual developments, whether it be a new test or the latest fashion in clothes, as they happen, it is often only by stopping and looking back that the extent of a trend becomes fully apparent.

As regards testing it was easy enough to predict some 25 years ago, as many did, that automation was on the march and would not be stopped. At the same time a great growth in NDT was also expected and one envisaged a strong trend towards dynamic rather than traditional 'static' tests. Automation is still going strong and its effect is felt in all corners of the laboratory. It has now merged into the even more universal march of computerisation, not merely a trend but a revolution of our equipment and procedures which we have now simply accepted.

Although NDT and dynamic tests are more commonplace they have been nothing like so all invasive in our industry generally and indeed their progress and contribution might be said to have not fulfilled expectations. The potential of thermal analysis techniques took a little longer to be widely recognised but then they advanced very quickly and what was once novel is now routine.

The newer trend, or in-subject, on a grand scale is 'quality'. Quality is bigger than testing and is a concept as much as a discipline. From being a necessary evil, a poor relation on the end of the production line, it is now seen as a key to profitability and is built into every aspect of a manufacturing operation.

Quality has its many facets. There has been the realisation that even the simplest of our instruments must be calibrated in a traceable manner and no self respecting technician would be seen without an authentic certificate on each machine. The complete testing laboratory is deemed to require accreditation, proof that it is conforming with standards and discipline, to the extent that one would doubt that an unaccredited test house will last much longer. The factory in total needs

1 Polymer Testing (7) 1987----~ Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1987. Printed in Northern Ireland

2 Editorial

its quality system inscribed in its quality manual, so that it can be accredited. Not to have such a system is increasingly inviting the customer to go elsewhere. The quality system has not been allowed to stay in its traditional state and the strongest new trend in 1986 was statistical process control--it is not smart to be without it.

Major trends such as computerisation and quality have made big changes to the test laboratory and individual techniques have made significant impact. Some have been predicted well in advancemthe extent of some of the changes need a pause for reflection to fully appreciate--and perhaps some expected advances have not come about quickly. However, looking at what has happened what can we expect next? I suspect that whereas it is not too difficult to list likely candidates for growth (data to build in quality at the design stage might be one), predicting what major upheavals are to come is another matter.

R. Brown