J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • M A T E R I A L S E V A L U A T I O N 773 NDE 4.0 WELCOME TO THE MATERIALS EVALUATION technical focus issue on NDE 4.0. It is truly an honor and privilege to serve as the guest editor for this special issue, the first ever on nondestructive evaluation (NDE) in the fourth industrial revolution across all technical publications. NDE 4.0 is a confluence of Industry 4.0 technologies with traditional NDE methods. Digital tech- nologies and physical inspection methods continue to evolve, mostly independently and sometimes interdependently. When combined using digital twins that capture and leverage data directly from the manufacturing process to in-service maintenance, we can optimize prescriptive maintenance for the safety and longevity of an asset and feed the relevant data back for design improvements. NDE cannot be left behind as every industrial sector enters the fourth revolution. The entire inspection community needs to transition to a new way of thinking by embracing the increased role of machines in every aspect of quality and safety assurance by being willing to accept significant changes to technology, application, training, certification, and regulation and by having a collabora- tive and “unlimited possibility” mindset. This issue is aimed at opening minds by scratching the surface of NDE 4.0 and triggering the community’s conversations and activities, like a fire starter. This issue strives to touch upon many of the starter topics—purpose and pursuit (Singh), chal- lenges and opportunities (Meyendorf et al.), perceptions and reality (Vrana), and opportunities and threats (Schulenburg). Also included are papers focused on the oil and gas industry (Wassink et al.) and the machine intelligence discipline (Aldrin). The content is specifically targeted to bring awareness around the topic and its use case as well as early thinking, which is evolving rapidly into what will be frontline world-class research in the next decade. We expect this issue to have a very short shelf life, just like a fire starter. Other journals including Research in Nondestructive Evaluation (published by ASNT) and Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation (Springer), also plan to publish topical issues on NDE 4.0, bringing valuable research content very soon. There has been a flurry of activities on NDE 4.0 over the last two years, mostly limited to a small group of thought leaders congregating at conferences and sharing research, applications, and a desire to come together. The German Society for Nondestructive Testing (DGZfP) committee, chaired by Bernd Valeske, was formed in June 2017 and is supported by 25 experts. They are focused on four items: interfaces in the Industrial Internet of Things, human-computer interaction, training, and additive manufacturing. The ASNT NDE 4.0 Committee, of which I am the chair, was formed in April 2019 and is supported by another 25 experts. The focus of this committee is to create a platform for knowledge exchange, endorse existing standards, and build a usable international resource directory. Another topic of concern is ethics as we consider the impact of decision-making machines. ASNT has been offering short courses, running full-day technical tracks, and facilitating panel discussions on the topic at annual conferences and research symposia. Norbert Meyendorf and colleagues are working to create a handbook of NDE 4.0. Johannes Vrana is organizing the first International Conference on NDE 4.0 in Munich, sponsored by DGZfP. ASNT and DGZfP have recently launched efforts to align the global communities. An international ambassador program with key individuals from more than 10 active countries will meet virtually to share findings and exchange developments in their respective countries. This aligns with the upcoming ICNDT initiative on NDE 4.0 as well. We extend an open invitation to take part in the conversation around the acceleration of NDE 4.0 triggered by COVID-19. Dear readers and leaders, please enjoy this special issue like a rising sun with a breath of fresh air and engage with NDE 4.0, as it brings abundant opportunities to all those who choose to embrace digital technologies and their valuable applications for a safer and more affordable world. RIPI SINGH, PH.D. Technical Focus Issue Editor ripi@inspiringnext.com FOCUS letter NDE cannot be left behind as every industrial sector enters the fourth revolution. Watch the video Welcome to the Technical Focus Issue on NDE 4.0