Abstract
Even in the 21st century, the majority of coating inspections are documented with pencil and paper and later transcribed to official reports. An experienced inspector will occasionally overlook or not record a critical piece of data that can cast doubts on the credibility of the quality assurance for a particular project. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are as compact as a pocket notepad, and inspection protocols can be programmed to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The PDA effective replaces the notepad or clipboard and can be stowed with inspector’s equipment, leaving the hands free to maneuver through tight spaces and safely climb ladders. PDAs are relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and can minimize transcription errors that can prove quite costly. The PDA communicates with a desktop application to archive inspection records electronically. One such application has been developed with inspection protocols programmed into a PDA that can produce uniform maintenance corrective actions for protective coatings. This automated system minimizes the subjectivity often cited in maintenance decision-making. This paper will describe the benefits of the PDA as an inspection tool as demonstrated with the development of a prototype.
