Consumer products have been transformed by the Internet of Things (IoT), the ability of smart connected devices to communicate and share information with each other. Now, IoT technology is expanding to NDT maintenance inspections and manufacturing QA/QC. This connectivity is not limited to cutting-edge inspection instruments. Even the workhorses of many corrosion inspection applications, ultrasonic thickness gages, are being upgraded with optional wireless connectivity to make them compatible with Industry 4.0.
When inspection equipment can connect to the cloud, it enables new tools that can transform the inspection process. Whenever decisions can be made using relevant information more quickly, it’s an advantage. The flow of information from connected inspection equipment to a data analyst in the office can improve the inspection workflow while speeding up the analysis process.