Short Courses

Johannes Vrana is an entrepreneur, physicist, consultant, author, speaker, and trainer with 15+ years' experience in NDE and 20+ in data science. His work ranges from applied ultrasonic testing to quantum optics, from quality assurance to science, and from large-scale industries to start-ups. Some of the highlights of his work: Ph.D. on Induction Thermography, former Chairman of the Siemens NDE Council, implementation of ultrasonic computed tomography into serial production, and author of the book "The World of NDE 4.0: Let the Journey Begin".

Dr. Vrana is leading multiple groups in national and international societies, mainly regarding NDE 4.0, digital transformation, and automated testing. He is well-published, editor of the Journal of NDE, editor-in-chief of the Handbook NDE 4.0, and received multiple awards.

His company “Vrana GmbH” specializes in NDE and digital transformation consulting and solutions, R&D, training, and software development. Vrana GmbH offers holistic cyber-physical solutions including NDE and Sensor IIoT integration, digital twin design, and value creation from data.

Lennart Schulenburg is an author and expert in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and quality control. As CEO of the X-Ray innovator VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions from Northern Germany, he has extensive experience in the automotive and aerospace industries. VisiConsult was founded in 1996 and is a leading supplier of digital X-ray and Computed Tomography solutions to customers worldwide. With a degree in Computational Informatics and an MBA, he successfully initiates insightful technology development. He is a regular speaker at industry events to share the latest trends and innovations in quality control and its impact on the broader organization.

Dr. Ripi Singh is now a purposeful innovation coach with a lifetime of learning in technology, people, and process development. It all started with aging airplane program in 1992 as a post doc fellow at Georgia Tech. Decades of his research work on fatigue and fracture, damage tolerance, human factors in NDE are well published and frequently referred to. Ripi is now working hard to bring industry 4.0 perspective and innovation processes to the NDE community and the local startup eco-system: with his virtual coaching lectures and articles. Ripi serves on various university advisory boards, US delegation to ISO 56000 on Innovation Management, and International Association of Innovation Professionals. Ripi is an author of 20 books, over 150 peer-reviewed publications, and dozens of invited keynote lectures.

Ripi and Johannes produced the book - “The World of NDE 4.0” and also served as co-editors-in-chief for Handbook of NDE 4.0 along with Norbert Meyendorf and Nathan Ida. They have been recognized by ASNT with Robert C. McMaster Gold Medal for 2022.

Dr. Prafull Sharma currently serves as Chief Technology Officer of UK based CorrosionRADAR Ltd which is bringing innovative corrosion monitoring technologies using Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). CorrosionRADAR invented a predictive CUI monitoring system which is gaining global traction addressing a big issue for the industry. Dr. Prafull Sharma brings vast industrial experience specially in digitalization of corrosion management on which there are several inventions to his credit. Dr Sharma did his PhD from Cranfield University UK. He is also credited with over fifteen international patents and innovations.

Dr. Thulsiram Gantala is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at IIT, Hyderabad. His PhD studies on AI models for virtual source phased array ultrasound imaging. The thesis studies include the development of a novel phased array ultrasonic imaging technique, a Generative AI model for generating synthetic phased array imaging, and simulating ultrasonic wave propagation in solids with defects, which have won wide acclaim, including the Best Thesis Award in Data Science at IIT Madras. He also received a Prime Minister fellowship for doctoral research during his PhD studies. He has contributed to developing AI techniques in both classical and quantum forms. His research interests include Nondestructive Evaluation, Materials Characterization, Wave Propagation, Ultrasonic Imaging for composite and metals, and Applied Machine Learning for Aerospace and Mechanical Systems.

S. Ramakrishnan has over 40 years of Industrial experience in Steel and Iron foundries. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology. Currently he is Head Quality Assurance in Brakes India Foundry Division as Sr General Manager QA responsible for Product Quality, Quality System, Customer Management for quality, new product introductions and its approvals. He is proficient in using NDT techniques - RT, UT, MT, PT, ART, VT widely. He has managed in installing 11 Real time X ray units ( 450 KV) across Brakes India foundry sites. All these X-ray systems are incorporated automation in castings handling by Robot including traceability

Gunasekaran R, currently Head, Radiography and Inspection Division (RID) VSSC, ISRO. He joined in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Sep 1999. Contributed in Theoretical modelling and Simulation of Ordnance system in Space programmes. He has 15 years experience in the area of NDT of Solid Propellant and Space Ordnance systems. He established a custom made Computed Tomography (CT) system utilizes Dual energy (3.5/6MeV) Linear accelerator (LINAC 3.5/6 MeV) and digital flat-panel detector (FPD) with flame-proof motor for Non-destructive imaging of Space Ordnance devices and systems for all our launch vehicles and satellites. High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI) has awarded M R Kurup Gold medal for Young Scientist for the excellent contributions in the area of Radiography of Solid Propellant and Space ordnance system. He is Chief Radiological Safety Officer of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO. He has 32 papers are published in Seminar/Conferences. Life member in Indian Society for NON-Destructive Testing (ISNT), Aeronautical Society of India(AeSI), High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI), Indian Society for Aerospace Related Mechanisms(INSARM), Society for Aerospace Mechanical engineering (SAME) and Society for Quality and Reliability (SQAR).

Aparna Sheila-Vadde has been with the NDE Lab in GE Aerospace Research since 2005. She has worked on design, simulation, testing and data analysis of electromagnetic sensors and algorithm development for inspection and monitoring applications. Prior to GE, Aparna worked at Western Digital Corp and Read-Rite, in Fremont, CA, for 3.5 years on GMR sensor design for hard-drives. Aparna has a B.Tech from Kerala University, MS from IISc and Ph.D from Carnegie Mellon University, USA, all in ECE.

Rajesh Kulkarni, currently General Manager at Visiconsult Pvt Limited, India, has Bachelor of engineering with an experience of more than 28 years in the field of NDT mainly automation related for various NDT technologies. He has designed and conceptualised systems for different customer needs for different segments. Having a strength of understanding the customer needs, their current process of testing and then improvising it to increase their throughput by meeting all necessary standards.

Ambhoj Tiwari studied Mechanical Engineering from Veltech Technical University - Chennai, India and did final year internship during graduation from LZfPQ at Saarland University-Germany. He started his career in the field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) in 2016 and has experience in Business Development and implementing the Advanced NDT Technologies like LRUT/ SRUT/ AUT/ PECT/ AET/MFL/ PAUT/ EMAT/ RVI/ RFET/3-D Laser/DCVG/CAT/CIPL/ACVG, Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) and Robotic Inspection technologies in Process Industries- Oil & Gas, Refineries, Petrochemical, Fertilizers, Chemical, Steel, Aluminium, Cement & Power Plants for maintaining the health of their Plants assets such as Storage Tanks, Pipelines, Cooling Tower, Sumps, Basin, Reservoirs, Ponds, Ports, Terminal Jetty, Berth Inspection, Steel/Civil Structure, Pressure Vessels, Column, and Boiler Tubes while working with Deep technologies ROV/Robotic Startup companies in India and Multinational companies-Global Leader in Advance NDT Technology with Headquarters in Canada, USA & Germany.