Flying Legends! See Page 12 for More
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Diagnostic FC_Layout 1 16/07/2010 15:59 Page 1 ISSN 0269-0225 No. 172 July/August 2010 Diagnostic Engineering THE JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTION OF DIAGNOSTIC ENGINEERS Flying legends! See page 12 for more THE OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER OF THE IDE IDE Accreditation wp_Layout 1 13/07/2010 08:58 Page 1 Anew markofassurance F DIAG O NO N S IO T T I U C T E I N T S G I N N I E E E H R T S For more information: Membership: Bill Parker (IDE) 01924 821000 Commercial: Roberto Tondina 01732 370348 Comment_Layout 1 20/07/2010 11:43 Page 1 EDITOR’S COMMENT Diagnostic Engineering is published by DFA Media Limited on behalf of The Institution of Diagnostic Engineers Editor’s comment Registered Office It’s that time of the year again when the Institution of Diagnostic Engineers looks 16 Thistlewood Road Outwood, Wakefield forward to its AGM. 2010 has been a year of changes both politically and West Yorkshire, WF1 3HH economically, and for the IDE changes are also continuing to take place to engage Tel: 44 (0) 1924 821000 new members and re-engage existing ones. Fax: 44 (0) 1924 821200 E-mail: [email protected] This year’s AGM is taking place at AirSpace Conference Centre, Imperial War Web: www.diagnosticengineers.org Museum Duxford on Monday 4th of October. The location has been chosen for its President: engineering past and relevance to today’s diagnostic engineers. On display in the Dr.David Adams museum’s seven main exhibition buildings visitors will see nearly 200 military and PhD., MIPM(SA), FIDiagE civil aircraft as well as maritime exhibits. Hangar 1 contains the pick of Duxford’s Chairman: British Collection including Concorde, the Lancaster and Mosquito. Steve Reed MIDiagE Duxford is also home to many historic flying aircraft, which can be seen in the air INSTITUTION OFFICERS during the summer months and at Duxford’s world famous air displays. Visitors can Compan y Secretary/Treasurer: also see the Museum’s staff carrying out skilled restoration and conservation work Andy Garnor MIDiagE. on exhibits. One of the major restoration projects currently being undertaken is that Vice-Chairman: of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a four engined American bomber from the Second Chris Gilbert MIDiagE., MIOA World War. You can find out more about Duxford on page 12, with information Executive Officer: about the AGM on page13. We hope members will take the opportunity to attend, Bill Parker MIDiagE and in so doing help shape the future of the Institution at this important juncture. Membership Selection Officer: Also in this edition of Diagnostic Engineering, Geoff Walker discusses his thoughts Chris Gilbert MIDiagE., MIOA. on the role of the diagnostic engineer. He says there has been a view expressed Council Members: that as we continue to develop more “self diagnosing” equipment, the skills of the Jeff Casciani-Wood FIDiagE Malcolm Hedley-Saw MIDiagE. diagnostic engineer or “diagnostician” will cease to be required in much of industry, with the job being de-skilled to the point of simply following instructions provided by Articles, photographs, manuscripts and other contributions for publication to: these built-in diagnostic tools. He takes the contrary view - that simply following the The Editor outputs of diagnostic tools without understanding what is going on inside will lead to Diagnostic Engineering DFA Media Ltd incorrect actions and wasted cost and effort. Rather, as these tools become more Cape House, 60a Priory Road sophisticated, there is a need for a corresponding increase in the skill level of To nbridge TN9 2BL diagnostic engineers to be able to understand and work with these tools if we are to or by e-mail: [email protected] gain the full benefit from them. You can find out more on page 6. I would also like to remind members that Diagnostic Engineering actively invites ISSN 0269-0225 you to send in articles/ stories/ and anecdotes - remember this is your magazine, Diagnostic Engineering is free of your mouthpiece, so take advantage of this unique platform for diagnostic engineers charge to members of the Institution of Diagnostic Engineers. to communicate with each other. It is also available on subscription. The weather forecast is for sunny times ahead, (at least for August anyway!). For details contact Head Office. Hopefully this is a positive omen for industry too. But one thing is for sure the skills The views expressed by contributors are their own of the diagnostic engineer are very much in demand and continuing to increase. and are not necessarily those of the publishers, the editor or the Council of Management of the This has to mean a sunny future - not just in August either! Institution of Diagnostic Engineers. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the Journal are accurate, we can accept no responsibility for these, or for the effect of errors or omission. Likewise, while every care is taken when accepting advertisements, we cannot accept responsibility for the contents of these or for unsatisfactory transactions. We will however investigate any complaints. F DIAG O NO N S IO T T I U C T E I N T S G I N N I E E E H R T S AaronAaron BlutsteinBlutst MIDiagE Editor Diagnostic Engineering www.diagnosticengineers.org 00Diagnostic Engineering July/August 2010 01 0 IDE Code_Layout 1 12/07/2010 16:55 Page 2 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE INSTITUTION F DIAG O NO N S IO T T I U C T E I N T S G I N N I E E E H R T S CELEBRATING 30YEARS 1981-2011 11. To promote the education and training of persons Definition whether resident in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in all matters relating to diagnostic A ‘Diagnostic Engineer’ shall be any person capable engineering and allied technologies. of contribution to the art or science of determining the existence of a problem in a machine, plant, system or structure and/or appraising the cause(s) of 12. To establish and maintain contacts with persons a failure which may have taken place and/or and/or organisation concerned with the assessing the condition or vulnerability of such employment of diagnostic engineers and machine, plant, system or structure either during use consultants. or while under development. 13. To arrange consortia of specialist diagnostic engineers to perform specific advisory/consultancy projects as required. Interpretation 14. To develop the science, practice and business of It is accepted that through a diagnostic capability or a diagnostic engineering and allied technologies. special knowledge of a failure and deterioration modes, reliabilities and hazards a person will be able 15. To encourage and improve the technical, to contribute to a satisfactory assessment of the financial, business, managerial and general causes of a defect and able to contribute to the knowledge of all persons engaged in the practice identification of remedial action to cure the defect of fault and failure diagnosis, condition and prevent failure. monitoring, post-mortem examination,accident investigation and allied activities. Motivation 16. To compile and classify information and particulars relating to the expert services Employers are invited to recognise that persons who rendered by members of the Institution. have joined have shown distinguished interest in developing and extending their technical skill. 17. To disseminate information and particulars relating to the expert services rendered by members of the Institution. Rewards 18. To stimulate efficiency in diagnosis and to elevate Prizes up to £500 in value are offered annually for the position of those connected therewith in the best brief accounts of interesting diagnostic skilled practical employment. cases. 1 9. To foster intelligent appreciation of the facilities existing for the provision of education and Activities research. The Institution shall arrange and subsidise: 10. To facilitate the exchange of information, ideas Ⅲ Regular Newsletters to members and practice by the publishing of such information as shall be of interest to diagnostic Ⅲ Regular notices of services available from members engineers. will be (distributed free of charge to members) to interested parties. These notices will also be 11. To render advice and aid in the exploitation of displayed at times on the Institution’s web page. inventions and to make known their nature and merits. Certificate 12. To assist in obtaining employment and to help engineers and others to find competent staff. A Membership Certificate is issued to all members. 01 2 Diagnostic Engineering July/August 2010 www.diagnosticengineers.org Diagnostic Contents_Layout 1 20/07/2010 11:44 Page 3 CONTENTS Editor: Aaron Blutstein BA (Hons) MIDiagE Tel: (01732) 370340 Inside this issue: e-mail: [email protected] July/August 2010 Advertisement Manager: Roberto Tondina Tel: (01732) 370348 PAGE 1 e-mail: [email protected] PAGE 4 Display Sales Executive: Editor’s comment Sarah Galbraith Tel: (01732) 370342 PAGE 2 e-mail: [email protected] Internal Sales Executive: Institution of Diagnostic Alistair McKay Engineers Code Tel: (01732) 370347 e-mail: [email protected] PAGE 4 DFA Direct Sales Manager: News Chris Lever Tel: (01424 ) 775941 PAGE 6 e-mail: [email protected] Production Manager & Designer: Feature PAGE 6 Chris Davis Industry comment Tel: (01732) 370340 e-mail: [email protected] Geoff Walker says that despite the advent of some Circulation Manager: increasingly sophisticated diagnostic tools, the role of Andy Kirk the diagnostician is becoming more, rather than less, Tel: 0845 602 7390 important to the effective and efficient performance e-mail: [email protected] of many organisations. Customer Liaison: Katherine Cairns PAGE 9 Tel: (01732) 370340 e-mail:[email protected] Member contributions Finance and Credit Control: Look, no teeth! That as you may well remember is Clare Jackson the punch line of a very old joke, and too corny to PAGE 9 Tel: (01732) 370340 repeat here.