frost & sullivan best practices award · another benefit of ct scanning is the ability of...

FROST & SULLIVAN BEST PRACTICES AWARD

Market Leadership Award 2019

INDUSTRIAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SOLUTIONS - GLOBAL

BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH

© Frost & Sullivan 2019 2 “We Accelerate Growth”

Contents Background and Company Performance ...................................................................... 3

Industry Challenges............................................................................................ 3

Market Leadership .............................................................................................. 4

Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 7

Significance of Market Leadership ............................................................................... 8

Understanding Market Leadership ............................................................................... 8

Key Performance Criteria .......................................................................................... 9

Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices ............................................................................................................... 10

The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards .................... 11

Research Methodology ...................................................................................... 11

About Frost & Sullivan ............................................................................................ 11



Background and Company Performance

Industry Challenges

Introduced in the field of dimensional metrology about a decade ago and in industrial failure analysis two decades ago, computed tomography (CT) reputation is largely still perceived as a tool for the medical and research industries, despite its tremendous potential in the production setting. Several technological advancements, such as three-dimensional (3D) printing and additive manufacturing, are helping manufacturers create complex products like never before. Traditional inspection mechanisms, including coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and optical measurement systems (OMS), are struggling to measure these increasingly intricate products. The analysis of complex parts — for either detailed analysis of small parts at high intensifications or the fast analysis of larger parts at low intensifications — is driving the demand for CT dimensional metrology systems.

Acquiring comprehensive data and relevant dimensions of parts, regardless of complexity, is quite crucial and requires the use of many rotary positions for accurate measurements. CT metrology systems are in a unique position to provide 3D CT measurement without component configuration. CT scanning can access areas of components normally inaccessible by other metrology techniques. Whether in assembled or pre-assembled states, CT scanning tests products for tolerance assessments, part-to-part comparisons as well as thickness and other measurements.

Another benefit of CT scanning is the ability of nondestructive testing (NDT). CT scanning helps with the analysis and extraction of internal features of objects, irrespective of their shapes and sizes, without causing any physical damage during testing. This metrology method is also useful in detecting flaws, cracks, and voids in objects during product design and development; thus, saving potential losses due to failed manufactured parts. Using this technique, manufacturers achieve accuracies in the range of micrometers. Manufacturers can now optimize the dimensional stability and strength of components.

Moreover, Frost & Sullivan points out that multi-material components present a challenge for CT scanning, as each material has different physical and chemical properties, meaning that the effectiveness and reliability of X-ray techniques can vary from object to object. The mixture of light metals and plastics poses another obstacle such as scatter radiation, which can affect image quality. While the scanning process is not an issue, evaluating the data and completing an automated evaluation using software can be difficult. To solve these issues, CT manufacturers provide multi-spectral scans, dual-source CT, energy-sensitive detectors and advanced scatter correction methods to reduce scatter radiation. Furthermore, newer manufacturing technologies, advanced integration, injection modeling, and plastic connectors with metal inserts are addressing material complexity issues.



Scanning speeds and high costs of CT scanners also hamper equipment adoption among manufacturers. Speed is crucial in manufacturing and will continue to play a critical role in pushing companies to adopt CT scanning systems. Despite the potential advantages of CT systems, Frost & Sullivan ongoing research shows that another key challenge is sustaining growth in a market with extreme price sensitivity at all levels. End-users are reluctant to invest in new CT systems.

CT is emerging as the single most empowering and effective technology solution that can handle the growing complexities of product designs and composition. Although CT is still in a developing stage, CT makes it possible to achieve dimensional and material quality control in a single scan and can provide solutions for multi-material industrial scanning. CT measures and analyzes intricate object details with micrometer precision that outperforms other conventional alternatives (such as CMMs and OMS). End users are looking to replace CMMs with flexible systems that can scan any surface topology and reach part areas that are not visible from the outside.

Frost & Sullivan’s research team maintains that CT manufacturers working towards delivering inline CT systems that can be integrated into production lines, support higher scanning speeds, and stay abreast of trends - including additive manufacturing and miniaturization - will help increase CT adoption by end users and capture a greater market share.1

Market Leadership

GE Inspection Technologies, an NDT specialist belonging to Baker Hughes, a GE company (short form BHGE IT), is a pioneer in the CT solutions market, providing customers with industry-leading technologies that satisfy a myriad of applications in various sectors. With a portfolio of digital solutions, covering industries such as electronics, automotive, oil and gas, power, additive and aerospace and aviation, BHGE IT provides a complete suite of CT and NDT equipment comprising the prestigious product brands phoenix|x-ray and Seifert. BHGE IT was among the first companies to offer high-speed inline CT systems. Frost & Sullivan believes that the company is a true innovator when it comes to bridging minds and machines to help industries achieve new levels of performance, production, and profit.

Changing the World of Manufacturing: BHGE IT Revolutionizes Digital Inspections

GE Inspection Technologies’ dedication to innovation has resulted in significant progress in reducing scatter artifacts and scanning periods, while still maintaining the highest level of quality. Gone are the days of waiting for time-consuming scans. Previously, scans would take hours, as the only way to reduce scatter radiation - without affecting image quality -

1 Global Computed Tomography (CT) in Dimensional Metrology Market, Forecast to 2022 (Frost & Sullivan, June 2018)



was with an extremely slow fan beam CT. Now, scans inspect large sample batches at a much faster rate. The so called phoenix precision CT line offers greater speed and precision than ever before, with the most powerful X-ray microfocus CT systems for NDT and 3D metrology and analysis, while the phoenix production CT line brings 3D inspection to the production floor by enabling increased scanning speeds without sacrificing image quality.

BHGE IT transforms CT solutions with its v│tome│x m 300 and v│tome│x c 450 by combining the low artifact, the high precision performance of fan beam CT with the increased speed of cone beam CT to improve the precision of failure analysis and 3D metrology inspection tasks with up to 100 times higher throughput. The company’s latest contributions leverage its proprietary innovations, such as its scatter│correct, dynamic 41 digital detector, and high-flux│target, to create premium CT solutions that reduce overall inspection times, while still producing quality results in just 1.5 minutes. According to the company, its scatter│correct technology reduces scan times from 60 minutes to 6 minutes with artifact-free precision. The company’s combination of low-artifact, the high precision performance of fan beam CT with the increased speed of cone beam CT, improves the precision failure analysis and 3D metrology inspection tasks with up to 100 times higher throughput. Furthermore, the scatter│correct technology allows for fine surface detection and can measure wall thickness for high-density materials. The unique functionality of scatter│correct is its ability to reduce scatter artifacts using a flat cone beam CT significantly.

BHGE IT’s latest dynamic 41│100 detector combines superior image quality with improved detection speed for dimensional metrology. With a detection area of 405 x 405 millimeter (mm) (16” x 16”) and pixel size of 100 micrometers, the flat panel detector has 16 megapixels, resulting in superior image quality with improved sensitivity and detection speed - all based on the latest GE Healthcare photodiode technology. Furthermore, this new detector generation is tailored exclusively for NDT X-ray applications and features. GE’s proprietary Endurance™ CSI scintillator provides superior resolution and brightness when compared to traditional alternatives. With higher brightness and sensitivity, GE’s dynamic 41│100 detector is ready to use for higher throughput and productivity applications. In addition, the detector’s signal-to-noise ratio is comparable to the standard 200 micrometers digital DXR X-ray detectors. Industries including aerospace, electronics, and nascent sectors that are working with new materials and manufacturing methods (such as composites and additive manufacturing) would benefit from the detector’s high resolution and high performance.

Fully Automated Industrial CT Solutions Optimizes Customer Production

GE Inspection Technologies revolutionizes 3D inspection and dimensional control with its fully automated inline CT speed│scan CT 64. It is two times faster than manual inspection and delivers inline autonomous 3D inspections. Its ability to scan and evaluate hundreds



of parts each day in under a minute per component drastically improves quality and ensures consistency, minimizes defects, and optimizes outputs with 3D automated defect recognition (3D speed│ADR). With speed scans reduced, 3D inspection is several hundred times faster than conventional industrial fan beam CT. Cost savings stem from the increase in faster product ramp-up times, production process optimization and minimized rejections. BHGE IT’s speed│scan CT 64-channel data acquisition gives customers faster sample throughput rate and the ability to conduct NDT and metrology with one CT scan. The scanner is fully capable for 100% 3D NDT and dimensional production control of medium to large light metal castings and composite. The maximum sample size is 600 mm diameter by 900 mm in length.

With its v│tome│x m 300, the company unites its 3D metrology and inspection technology with quality and speed. As the world’s first microCT system to use scatter│correct, dynamic 41│100 detector and high-flux│target, the v│tome│x m 300 produces high-quality images at a much faster scan rate and with improved accuracy. Paired with an automated robot loading, the system performs four times that of an operator’s productivity, and with a fully automated workflow, customers can expect higher productivity and higher throughputs. The combination of high-flux│target and scatter│correct generates faster scans, with fewer artifacts improving overall result quality. Furthermore, with this system 3D, analysis takes place in real-time with unprecedented image accuracy.

Both of these high-volume systems have optional robot loading and when paired with other elective features, scan times can be reduced to less than 30 seconds with the speed|scan and down to 2 minutes with the v|tome|x m. GE Inspection Technologies offers several configurations and optional tools to help customers achieve production throughput goals with extreme accuracy; other additions can improve measurement, workflows, and precision, improved image quality which can increase the probability of detection with both efficiency and ease.

Partnering for the Future: BHGE IT’s Forward Thinking Anticipates Customer Needs

GE Inspection Technologies has a long-established history of innovation and dedication to research and development. By anticipating customer needs with the development and expansion of its CT industrial line, GE focuses on offering the most comprehensive solutions. Frost & Sullivan independent analysis confirms that the company holds the largest market share by creating CT systems with unique capabilities that meet industry needs. With a broad customer base spanning a spectrum of industries, the company is keenly aware of industry-specific applications and needs. As a globally recognized company brand with its range of experience and expertise, customers trust GE Inspection Technologies with its product brands phoenix|x-ray and Seifert to provide efficient solutions. With the expansion of its premium CT portfolio, its expertise in digital solutions



help test, measure, monitor, analyze, and optimize production, positioning GE Inspection Technologies as a market leader in the CT solutions market.

As an industry leader, BHGE IT leverages its wealth of knowledge and experience to produce digital solutions in the era of rapid technological advancements, such as additive manufacturing. With more complex parts to inspect, BHGE IT’s industrial CTs are ready to inspect and measure the intricate internal structures. From design optimization to component validation and quality control, the NDT expert harnessed the power and combined it with high throughput technologies to not only generate and analyze data sets, but all with the speed and accuracy to support a spectrum of customer needs - from prototyping to production.

Conclusion

As manufacturing evolves to produce more complex components, traditional inspection mechanisms, such as coordinate measuring machines and optical measurement systems, are struggling to keep up.

Computed tomography (CT) metrology equipment, although often associated with the medical and research field, is on the rise to fulfill the new quality and throughput requirements on the production floor. Frost & Sullivan recognizes how industrial CTs are in a unique position and are emerging as the single most empowering solutions for the increasingly complex product designs and compositions. GE Inspection Technologies’ automated inline CT suite is the future of the industry, and the company is ready to assist customers’ production line transition to CT systems.

With its strong overall performance, GE Inspection Technologies, part of Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE IT), achieves a leadership position in the industrial CT solutions market, with a market share of 22%; Frost & Sullivan is thus proud to bestow the 2019 Global Market Leadership Award to this innovative NDT specialist.



Significance of Market Leadership Ultimately, growth in any organization depends upon customers purchasing from a company, and then making the decision to return time and again. Loyal customers become brand advocates; brand advocates recruit new customers; the company grows; and then it attains market leadership. To achieve and maintain market leadership, an organization must strive to be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand, nurturing the brand, and differentiating from the competition.

Understanding Market Leadership Driving demand, strengthening the brand, and differentiating from the competition all play a critical role in a company’s path to market leadership. This three-fold focus, however, is only the beginning of the journey and must be complemented by an equally rigorous focus on the customer experience. Best-practice organizations, therefore, commit to the customer at each stage of the buying cycle and continue to nurture the relationship once the customer has made a purchase. In this way, they build a loyal, ever-growing customer base and methodically add to their market share over time.



Key Performance Criteria For the Global Market Leadership Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently focused on specific criteria to determine the following areas of performance excellence.

Criterion Requirement

Growth Strategy Excellence Demonstrated ability to consistently identify, prioritize, and pursue emerging growth opportunities

Implementation Excellence Processes support the efficient and consistent implementation of tactics designed to support the strategy

Brand Strength The possession of a brand that is respected, recognized, and remembered

Product Quality The product or service receives high marks for performance, functionality, and reliability at every stage of the life cycle

Product Differentiation

The product or service has carved out a market niche, whether based on price, quality, or uniqueness of offering (or some combination of the three) that another company cannot easily duplicate

Technology Leverage Demonstrated commitment to incorporating leading-edge technologies into product offerings, for greater product performance and value

Price/Performance Value Products or services offer the best value for the price, compared to similar offerings in the market

Customer Purchase Experience Customers feel they are buying the most optimal solution that addresses both their unique needs and their unique constraints

Customer Ownership Experience Customers are proud to own the company’s product or service, and have a positive experience throughout the life of the product or service

Customer Service Experience Customer service is accessible, fast, stress-free, and of high quality



Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices Frost & Sullivan Awards follow a 10-step process to evaluate Award candidates and assess their fit with best practice criteria. The reputation and integrity of the Awards are based on close adherence to this process.

STEP OBJECTIVE KEY ACTIVITIES OUTPUT

1 Monitor, target, and screen

Identify Award recipient candidates from around the globe

Conduct in-depth industry research

Identify emerging sectors Scan multiple geographies

Pipeline of candidates who potentially meet all best-practice criteria

2 Perform 360-degree research

Perform comprehensive, 360-degree research on all candidates in the pipeline

Interview thought leaders and industry practitioners

Assess candidates’ fit with best-practice criteria

Rank all candidates

Matrix positioning of all candidates’ performance relative to one another

3

Invite thought leadership in best practices

Perform in-depth examination of all candidates

Confirm best-practice criteria Examine eligibility of all

candidates Identify any information gaps

Detailed profiles of all ranked candidates

4 Initiate research director review

Conduct an unbiased evaluation of all candidate profiles

Brainstorm ranking options Invite multiple perspectives

on candidates’ performance Update candidate profiles

Final prioritization of all eligible candidates and companion best-practice positioning paper

5 Assemble panel of industry experts

Present findings to an expert panel of industry thought leaders

Share findings Strengthen cases for

candidate eligibility Prioritize candidates

Refined list of prioritized Award candidates

6 Conduct global industry review

Build consensus on Award candidates’ eligibility

Hold global team meeting to review all candidates

Pressure-test fit with criteria Confirm inclusion of all

eligible candidates

Final list of eligible Award candidates, representing success stories worldwide

7 Perform quality check

Develop official Award consideration materials

Perform final performance benchmarking activities

Write nominations Perform quality review

High-quality, accurate, and creative presentation of nominees’ successes

8 Reconnect with panel of industry experts

Finalize the selection of the best-practice Award recipient

Review analysis with panel Build consensus Select recipient

Decision on which company performs best against all best-practice criteria

9 Communicate recognition

Inform Award recipient of Award recognition

Present Award to the CEO Inspire the organization for

continued success Celebrate the recipient’s

performance

Announcement of Award and plan for how recipient can use the Award to enhance the brand



STEP OBJECTIVE KEY ACTIVITIES OUTPUT

10 Take strategic action

Upon licensing, company is able to share Award news with stakeholders and customers

Coordinate media outreach Design a marketing plan Assess Award’s role in future

strategic planning

Widespread awareness of recipient’s Award status among investors, media personnel, and employees

The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards Research Methodology Frost & Sullivan’s 360-degree research methodology represents the analytical rigor of our research process. It offers a 360-degree-view of industry challenges, trends, and issues by integrating all 7 of Frost & Sullivan's research methodologies. Too often companies make important growth decisions based on a narrow understanding of their environment, leading to errors of both omission and commission. Successful growth strategies are founded on a thorough understanding of market, technical, economic, financial, customer, best practices, and demographic analyses. The integration of these research disciplines into the 360-degree research methodology provides an evaluation platform for benchmarking industry participants and for identifying those performing at best-in-class levels.

About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages more than 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 45 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

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