ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL NDT RESEARCH CENTER IN SAUDI ARABIA

This paper presents the strategic plan of the emerging Saudi National Center for NonDestructive Testing SaNC_NDT. The center is established to support synergetic and interactive programs in research, industrial collaboration, and technology transfer in the field of NDT. The mission, vision, and objectives of this center are introduced along with measures taken to assure the success in achieving planned objectives. Center organization is presented, illustrating the administration as well as the four main divisions: Community Services; Research & Development; Facilities; Human & Financial Resources. The management body of the center is ad dressed including the Steering Board, the Center Council, and the Advisory Committee. Facilities required to run the center are described and the planned training program designed for cente r staff of engineers and scientists. The excepted role of SaNC-NDT in the Saudi industry is outlined as well as expected affiliations with national and international organizations. Thi s paper, in the belief of the authors, presents a template for initiatives in countries that are inte rested in establishing equivalent NDT centers.