Niagara Falls was the opening stage for PANNDT 2025, where we interviewed Douglas Marshall, a highly important player in the field of non-destructive testing (NDT), Vice President of ICNDT and co-founder of PANNDT. His participation is a living testimony of how dedication, intercontinental cooperation and technological evolution have forged a safer and more efficient industry.
A life dedicated to non-destructive testing
Douglas Marshall began his career as a technician at FASCO, rising through hard work and vision to become CEO of the Canadian Institute for NDT (CINDE). His international involvement began in 1998 during the ICNDT Congress in the Netherlands and four years later, he was chairing the Council’s Membership Committee. His connection to the NDT industry is almost visceral and even today, he continues to teach ultrasound at academic institutions and actively participates in international forums.
I got involved in a membership advisory group and four years later I became president. And so, I became actively involved because I have a passion for nondestructive testing. I still do. Most recently, in the last few years, I’ve taught ultrasound at the university.
Douglas Marshall.
The founding of the Pan-American NDT movement
In 1996, the Americas lacked a regional organization to unite Canada, the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of NDT. That is why, from CINDE, Marshall and his team promoted the idea of creating the Pan American NDT (PANNDT), an idea that emerged in a bar in Jamaica, where Peter Brady, a recognized pioneer and leader in the non-destructive evaluation community in Canada, proposed the creation of a regional congress.
Canada organized the first edition in 1998, drafting the terms of reference, defining objectives and designing the visual identity of the event. Today, with eight editions completed and hundreds of participants, the PANNDT has established itself as a hemispheric reference in innovation and technical collaboration.
From Analog to Robotic: The Evolution of NDTs
Marshall describes in detail how NDT technologies have evolved over 27 years and how in the early days, testing was manual, with analog equipment and minimal traceability. Today, advances include:
- Automated inspection with robots.
- Digital data capture and storage.
- Complete historical traceability of each test.
- Advanced techniques such as phased array, which allow multidirectional scanning of components.
Now everything is sophisticated, everything is marked, scanned and recorded. Very similar to radiography, where film is used. Before, we didn’t have it. […] Now, with the current situation, for example, with the phased-array system, which scans from different angles and frequencies, it’s a new world.
Douglas Marshall.
AI in the NDT: ally or risk?
The artificial intelligence is already present in data analysis, image interpretation and automatic validation of results. Marshall sees it as a powerful, but not infallible, tool.
If you enter good data, you will get good data. If you enter bad data, you will not get the results you want.
Douglas Marshall.
He stresses that AI is not a substitute for human validation or technical judgment, and for him, the responsible use of AI can greatly improve industrial safety, but it must be guided by rigorous standards and professional expertise.
Training, youth and the future of NDTs
Marshall is excited to see former students of his, now leaders in the industry, at PANNDT 2025. For him, the future of NDT depends on:
- Continuous training of new talents.
- Increased access of Latin American companies to international forums.
- Expansion of regional networks to strengthen technical cooperation.
With more than 800 participants and 100 exhibitors in this edition, the PANNDT demonstrates that the NDT is expanding and becoming more and more integrated at continental level.
The legacy is still alive
Douglas Marshall was not only a key player in the history of the Pan-American NDT; he is its architect and mentor. His legacy is not measured only in positions or events, but in the vibrant community he has helped build.
On PANNDT is not just a congress, but a platform for connection, training and innovation. Marshall reminds us that technology alone is not enough, it is passion, cooperation and the desire to share knowledge that elevates an entire industry.
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Source: Inspenet.