Group Manager TWI UK Q&A with Stephen Wisniewski

Hi Stephen, can you start by letting us know a bit about your background?

After leaving college at 18, having completed A-levels in art, pure and applied mathematics, and physics, I decided to opt for an apprenticeship route and a position was offered to me in a radiographic testing facility. I advanced in that particular area and became manager of the RT, MT and PT testing facility at an early age before moving onto to a larger facility where I became a technical manager within another company, inspecting and writing NDT techniques for large components and fabrications from the UK and spanning all over the world in various sectors.

It was at this time, when I completed a BEng (Hons) in materials engineering. I took a short break from direct engineering to become a teacher for some time before returning to NDT. I was offered a position at TWI as a lecturer, then advanced lecturer, which led to me becoming a chief examiner. The teaching background certainly helped me to add to training material structure and improve the overall focus on good teaching practice. I gained further experience working for the IMechE before returning to TWI as NDT programme manager and being appointed as the UK training group manager three years ago. I have over 30 years’ experience in both technical and managerial roles and 40 years’ experience in the field of NDT and allied engineering.

Can you tell us a bit more about your experience?

My experience spans over many years, focused mainly in casting technology. In addition to that, I also have significant inspection experience of forgings and welding. The components/structures I have had the privilege to work on span many sectors including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, maritime, rail, aerospace, defense, and civil projects (e.g. Heathrow terminal 5 and suspension bridges). The need for inspection spans almost every sector and plays a vital role in ensuring fitness for purpose and component compliance leading to improved safety. I have been privileged to have helped manage a joint project between the Lloyds Register Foundation (LLRF) and TWI called SEASEP (South East Asia Skills enhance Programme) through its phase one. To see how training and certification can affect the lives of people was immense and culminated in over 4000 people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, being given the opportunity I was given when I first started out as an apprentice radiologist. Such a proud moment for all those involved in this project from both TWI and LRF.

How do you find it working as a group manager?

Working as a group manager certainly has its challenges but, to be honest, I am surrounded by an excellent set of programme managers who are very supportive and proactive. I see myself as more of a guiding hand to help steer operations and future development needs.

Which teams are you heading currently at TWI?

I head training and examination services, this includes the programme managers and their teams, which include weld inspection, the IIW diploma programme, BGAS, NDT and the underwater diving team. Not to forget the administration team managers and their staff who work tirelessly in the background to keep the TES programmes running!

What made you decide to take your role(s) at TWI?

I believed that I could make a difference with my experience across manufacturing and help in shaping other businesses that would benefit the programmes themselves as well as the managers. It comes naturally to me to build strong business since we still have a family business that we established in 1860, which is a testimony to the family’s work ethic.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I must say it’s the people I work with; when you see the enthusiasm they have, it makes my job so much easier. I must also mention making a difference and steadily seeing the results of improving business, processes, and looking for innovative solutions that do not diminish quality whilst, at the same time, protecting the brand that TWI is.

How do you see TWI training progressing in the future?

The core knowledge to fabricate, join, build, inspect and monitor in themselves will not change at once. However, TWI will need to look at the processes and the upcoming technology, as to how these may change and affect future training requirements. Live monitoring of structures, new modern sensor and remote monitoring systems, as well as the use of AI will all change the way we think about inspection in the coming years. TWI, I am sure, will rise to these challenges.