Managing non-destructive evaluation data

A method of managing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data for manufacturing and/or maintenance purposes, the method comprising:

• retrieving, by at least one processor, a first dataset of NDE data for a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset in a population of assets, the first dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to a simulated model that is a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, wherein the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;
• retrieving, by the at least one processor, a second dataset of NDE data for a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset in the population of assets, the second dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to the simulated model, wherein the second dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;
• the datasets being aligned with an alignment algorithm selected based on an evaluation of the datasets;
• the first and second datasets containing inspection information for the respective asset wherein the inspection information of a dataset includes information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the dataset;
• the simulated model being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;
• processing the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;
• processing the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;
• and
• determining, by the at least one processor, a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset associated with the population of assets based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.

A computer program product for use in manufacturing and/or maintenance comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• retrieve a first dataset of NDE data for a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset, the first dataset of NDE data containing inspection information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the first dataset and having previously been aligned to a simulated model that is a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, wherein the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;
• retrieve a second dataset of NDE data for a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset, the second dataset of NDE data containing inspection information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the second dataset and having previously been aligned to the simulated model, wherein the second dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;
• the simulated model being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;
• process the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;
• process the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;
• and
• determine a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.