The Evolution of NDT Documentation: Establishing a Machine-Readable Language for NDE 4.0 through the DX-Schema Project

The most critical output of any nondestructive testing (NDT) procedure is the evaluated result documented in a report, yet these "key performance indicators" (KPIs) are frequently trapped in analog or semi-digital silos. Traditionally, reports are generated through manual entries or office software, printed, and signed, leading to significant challenges in traceability and data integrity due to a human error rate in manual data entry of approximately 1 ‑ 5%. Despite the rise of digital workflow solutions, the NDT industry still lacks a common ontological framework for the seamless, machine-readable exchange of reports and personnel certificates. This presentation introduces the DX‑Schema project, a normative initiative aimed at establishing a modular, "digital-first" language for quality infrastructure. Built upon the Digital Calibration Certificate (DCC) framework and aligned with Industry 4.0 concepts like the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), DX‑Schema enables quality data to be interoperable across global supply chains. We will outline the project’s conceptual framework, its timeline, and the collaborative input required from the NDT community to integrate NDE results into the emerging Digital Product Passport (DPP).