At OnestopNDT, we are delighted to feature Alexander, an accomplished professional with more than 15 years of experience in NDT, welding, lifting equipment, and inspection services. From his early days as a trainee in Dubai to becoming an independent NDT and inspection consultant and founder of Probespection FZE, Alexander’s journey reflects passion, dedication, and continuous growth. In this conversation, he shares his career story, insights on inspection challenges, and his vision for the future of NDT in a rapidly evolving industry.
Hi Alexander, welcome to OnestopNDT. It’s a pleasure to have you here. To start with, could you please introduce yourself and share a glimpse of your professional journey, from your early career beginnings to becoming an independent NDT and inspection consultant?
By the grace of Allah, I started my NDT career in 2011 when I first moved to Dubai to work for a mid-size Oil & Gas Inspection Service and Oil Tools manufacturing company. I began working as a trainee or field assistant under more senior and experienced inspectors. With the passage of time, I slowly acquired more knowledge and experience in NDT and its diverse applications. I was blessed to become an ASNT NDT Level 3 in 5 methods within a span of 3 to 4 years from the start of my NDT career, and ever since then, the journey has been very exciting and fulfilling.
It is said, “Time Flies”, and this was literally my experience, because before I knew it, 2011 became 2020 and it was time to transition into the next phase of my NDT career progression. From July 2020, I worked as a freelance NDT Consultant until April 2023, at which point I officially registered my independent small-sized NDT Consultancy in the UAE called Probespection FZE, focusing mainly on Ultrasonics (UT) and Electromagnetic (ET) NDT methods, with the traditional MT, PT, and VT methods being reserved for the occasional traditional client who may still require the same. I remain grateful to Allah alone for a challenging and successful NDT career to date.
With over 15 years of experience across NDT, welding, lifting equipment, and inspection services, what would you say has been the most defining phase of your career so far?
That would be simultaneously acquiring independent ASNT NDT Level 3 certification in 5 methods alongside a series of highly coveted advanced lifting equipment inspection diplomas from a well-renowned British certification body called LEEA. The early acquisition of these two technical credentials, while being deeply immersed in the daily oilfield inspection grind, meant that a world of greater opportunities to acquire even more in-depth and challenging hands-on experience across diverse domains within the Oil & Gas and Steel fabrication industries suddenly became readily available. The transformation in my inspection career that occurred since then has been phenomenal, to say the least.
You’ve worked across multiple geographies, including the UAE, Far East, and Africa. How has this global exposure influenced your approach to inspections, training, and client collaboration?
Yes, absolutely. In simple terms, the absolutely essential soft skills needed to seamlessly interact or collaborate with other fellow NDT crews and technicians from multiple socio-cultural backgrounds, especially when working in the Middle East, could really not have been easily acquired by any other means, and Allah knows best. So, yes, the gift of having been able to work in different regions earlier on in my career had and continues to positively impact my career.
As an ASNT Level III professional and trainer, you’ve been deeply involved in both executing and teaching NDT. In your opinion, what are the most significant challenges young NDT professionals face today, and how can they overcome them?
In brief, properly understanding the scientific principles behind each NDT method and/or technique, following which proper grasp of the application aspects will be relatively smooth, albeit with proper Level 3 guidance.
Secondly, prior knowledge of standard mathematical principles, especially the basics around geometry, trigonometry, and algebra, will go a long way to facilitate their grasp of many key NDT concepts in methods such as UT, ET, and RT.
You’ve delivered inspection and training services across standards like API, ASTM, ASME, and DS-1. How do you ensure adaptability and consistency when dealing with such diverse international standards?
In truth, if the Creator is in control of and guides a person’s affairs, then everything will always go well for that person. As such, I owe all my success at adapting to various inspection situations involving different standards to the blessing of Allah. I would be lying if I dared claim credit for any such ability. He alone makes it possible for my mind to quickly identify, extract, and correctly apply the necessary data from the various applicable inspection standards when dealing with diverse inspection scenarios. This is truly how I have managed to ensure adaptability and consistency in the many inspection roles that I have been blessed to be qualified in.
Having specialized in areas like Eddy Current UWILD inspections and DROPS inspections, how do you see the role of advanced inspection techniques evolving in offshore and oil & gas industries?
With the evolution of computing and software technologies comes many innovative ways to efficiently render any service, and NDT—be it an advanced or traditional method and/or technique—is no different. The Oil & Gas industry in particular has, over recent years, increased the adoption of novel or updated NDT techniques, mainly due to long-term operational efficiencies that naturally accrue from such adoptions. Moreover, the advancements in inspection data acquisition, compilation, and reporting/presentation made possible by the adoption of advanced inspection techniques translates to reporting/data presentation that is easier to understand and therefore facilitates better decision-making by clients.
You’ve held roles ranging from inspector to technical manager to consultant. How did this progression shape your leadership style, especially when managing training programs and inspection teams?
In one word: Humility. Humility in admitting when you are ignorant in order that learning might occur. Then ensuring that any new knowledge is properly acquired and applied. And then teaching it to others properly, even while earning a living through the same. Or simply using the newly acquired knowledge or insight to better collaborate with a business associate or client as well as better manage one’s staff with a healthy dose of humanity.
Such an approach means that any colleague, business associate, client, staff, and/or student(s) will always want to work with you constructively. It’s a natural win-win.
At Smith International Gulf Services, you played a key role in training and quality management. Looking back, what leadership lessons from that experience continue to guide your consultancy work today?
Take the time and effort to properly acquire any relevant knowledge and experience and then apply it judiciously when required. In terms of professional ethics and service quality, avoid shortcuts at all costs. It only brings short-term joy with long-term regrets.
The inspection industry is rapidly changing with digitalization and automation. What are your thoughts on the balance between human expertise and emerging technologies like AI or robotics in NDT?
I’m old school. My personal appetite for robots, particularly AI, is extremely low. Put it this way: the day we foolishly think that a robot can replace a human being, especially in domains such as inspection, is the day that we’ve collectively signed potential death warrants for lots of people, and Allah knows best. AI and robots do have a role to play, but only with adequate professional and ethical human involvement and control.
You’ve been involved in both hands-on field inspections and high-level consultancy. Which role do you personally find more fulfilling, and why?
Hands-on field experience by far. I find nothing more rewarding than getting all down-and-dirty getting stuff done, with proper guidance or procedure, of course. It’s well known, particularly in any engineering sector, that a person learns a lot more by actually trying to do things, no matter how small it may be or appear.
Outside of your professional commitments, what interests or activities inspire and energize you to maintain balance in life?
Religion, family, cooking, sports, and lots of extracurricular reading. I am a Muslim and I try my best to ensure that Islam guides everything that I do, think, or say, simply because the world that comes after this ephemeral existence is permanent, and I hope to be on the right side when the time comes to transition into the next realm.
This, in summary, keeps me poised during all my professional engagements, and I remain eternally grateful to Allah for always guiding my heart, even though I constantly fall far short of His divine commands, and for this, I always seek and hope for His mercy.
Finally, Alexander, what are your thoughts on OnestopNDT as a platform? Do you find it valuable in delivering authentic insights, connecting professionals, and serving as a reference point for NDT knowledge?
Yes, absolutely.
Personally, I have often used the OnestopNDT website and app for various purposes, including sourcing NDT equipment and/or vendors, keeping myself up to speed on overall industry technical trends, job availability/employer hiring patterns, and the latest industry news.
So, yes, OnestopNDT serves a vitally beneficial purpose by keeping active NDT personnel updated on most of the essential matters, and it does this by keeping its content brief, impactful, and updated.
Thanks for the opportunity to dialogue with OnestopNDT. I ask Allah to make it a fruitful engagement. Ameen.
Thank you, Alexander, for sharing your inspiring journey and insights. Your experiences, from hands-on inspections to independent consultancy, highlight the value of expertise, humility, and continuous learning in shaping the future of NDT.
