The State of the Society was presented to ASNT members both in person and virtually during the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Members Monday 31 October at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.
Strategic Plan
John Iman, Chair of the ASNT Board of Directors, reviewed the Society’s progress against the six pillars of ASNT’s Strategic Plan for 2022–2026, which was approved last year at the Annual Conference in Phoenix:
Pillar 1: Expand and Improve Our Certification Portfolio
“I am pleased to report that ASNT’s ISO 9712 program will be launched by the end of this year,” said Iman. He added that at the same time, ASNT has retired the ACCP name to reflect that the program is now ISO 9712 compliant. Also, as part of Pillar 1, the Industry Section Qualification for Oil & Gas (ISQ – O&G) continues to grow. Qualifications were launched in UT thickness and UT shearwave. UT phased array and UT long seam testing are planned for the future.
“The certification team is presently developing plans for the next ISQ industry sector which we look to identify in 2023 and develop for launch in 2026. Expanding these qualifications is an important step in growing our certification programs, and as we integrate them into the ISO 9712 program,” he said.
Pillar 2: Improve the Value of Membership by Providing Essential Content and Engagement Experiences
To better promote and recruit for volunteer opportunities, ASNT launched an online volunteer management system—which will act as a “job board” to match members with volunteer opportunities—as well as a Volunteer Leadership Academy, the first session of which was held during the conference. “Our goal is to make sure you are effectively prepared for your volunteer service,” Iman said.
He reported that ASNT created a department for Content Management in June 2022 with the goal of driving more purposeful engagement and content opportunities for members. Under this approach, departments will work together using data driven decision-making to identify gaps and opportunities for content creation. Currently, staff are implementing tools to organize ASNT’s decades’ worth of content, as well as a redesign of the website.
The ASNT Board of Directors recently approved a business plan for the significant expansion of its education and training portfolio. As part of this initiative, ASNT will offer franchise opportunities to established trainers and training companies beginning in 2023.
Pillar 3: Create Pathways and Resources for the Entry, Performance, and Advancement of the Nondestructive Testing Workforce
To address workforce development, ASNT has a number of initiatives in development. These include expanding ASNT’s Roadmaps to Career Success, conducting workforce research, providing teacher information kits at the K-12 grade levels, and improving the Military Outreach Program. In 2023, ASNT will also launch a Careers in Nondestructive Testing website and an apprenticeship program for Level II technicians. The ASNT Advocacy Committee is working to identify government and other sources of funding.
Pillar 4: Advance the Field of Nondestructive Testing by Being an Effective Advocate
“Advocating for the NDT field remains an important responsibility which ASNT takes very seriously,” said Iman. He stated that in 2022 ASNT implemented several advocacy programs, including the ASNT Ambassador program, the UT Competition, and the subject-matter expert program which prepares members to represent ASNT to the media. A public relations firm was hired to help promote public awareness of NDT and ASNT. Lastly, ASNT is developing a legislative affairs agenda.
Pillar 5: Implement a Regional Growth Strategy
ASNT is launching ASNT India Private Ltd. Co. in January 2023, in collaboration with the ASNT India Section. This wholly owned subsidiary company will have a training and certification facility in Chennai, which will serve as ASNT’s hub in the region.
“We expect to grow our members and certified professionals in India and the Middle East significantly as we collaborate with the ASNT India Section and the India Society for Nondestructive Testing to our collective benefit,” Iman said.
Pillar 6: Expand Research and Scholarship in Nondestructive Testing
The ASNT Board of Directors has funded the ASNT Foundation. The initial endowment was $5 million and will fund operations for its first three years. The Foundation’s mission includes providing student scholarships, faculty grants, supporting workforce development initiatives, and pursuing sponsored research projects with government and industry.
“As you can see, ASNT has been very busy this past year implementing its strategic plan,” said Iman. “We have a ton of work left to do, and we look forward to engaging with the members in these endeavors.”
Operations
President Danny Keck presented a report on the Society’s operations, including an overview of trends in membership, certification, and event attendance across ASNT. He reported that as of the end of the fiscal year 30 June 2022, ASNT had 12 887 members, including 390 lifetime members, 11 209 regular members, 555 new professional members, and 295 student members. One new section, Central Indiana Section, was chartered. And six conferences—both in person and online—were hosted by ASNT.
“I am particularly proud to share that ASNT was recognized with 2022 Association Media & Publishing Network EXCEL awards for best Onsite Convention Daily for ASNT Daily and Best Brochure for ASNT One Sheets,” said Keck.
Finances
Brad Pence, Director of Finance and ASNT Treasurer, presented the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2022, which ended 30 June 2022. He reported that the auditors presented an unqualified opinion, which represents the highest standard for audit of financial systems, and no significant findings were reported. A detailed summary of the financial report will appear in the January 2023 issue of Materials Evaluation.
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The original version of this article appeared in the November 2022 issue of ASNT Daily distributed at ASNT 2022: The Annual Conference. Download and read every issue from the ASNT website.