SKF South Africa is an existing British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) accredited centre in the following areas: Accredited examination centre (AEC), accredited training organisation (ATO) and Certified VA Category 1 provider. On 5th November 2012, SKF South Africa Reliability Maintenance Institute (RMI) centre was re-audited by BINDT. “The aim of the reaccreditation process was to keep the existing certifications and also add Vibration Analysis Category 2 to SKF South Africa’s BINDT accreditations,” explains Darren Chetty, SKF South Africa Application Engineering Manager / RMI Manager.
     
The audit took a full day and involved a walk through the RMI centre and SKF facilities, a review of documents and policies regarding all training procedures, and a review of the training material and trainers as well as SKF South Africa’s recording process. The audit’s outcome resulted in SKF South Africa successfully achieving  certification with BINDT for the following: Accredited examination centre (AEC), Accredited training organisation (ATO), Certified VA Category 1 provider and Certified VA Category 2 provider. The BINDT examination is an international accreditation that provides participants with international exposure in the field of Vibration Analysis and also increases the marketability of the individual. Chetty points out that the accreditation provides huge opportunities for SKF customers. “Participants who enrol in the Vibration Analysis Category 1 or Category 2 training courses not only write the SKF examinations but can also enrol to write the BINDT examinations at SKF South Africa, provided that the candidate meets the minimum requirements for the BINDT examinations.”

Chetty says that the accreditation was an excellent experience for SKF South Africa’s RMI Centre. “We are reviewing the possibility of obtaining other accreditations because being accredited by a reputable institute provides the opportunity for SKF South Africa RMI centre to be awarded the provider of choice when it involves training customers,” concludes Chetty.