1. What inspired you to pursue a career in NDT?
I chose to work in the industry when I started my career. To me, it symbolizes progress for our civilization. More specifically, I admire humankind’s ingenuity. Non-destructive testing (NDT) embodies that!
My first exposure to NDT was when I worked for an inspection company in the aerospace sector. All these testing methods that examine components without damaging them are a blend of technology, critical knowledge, and skills. I was blown away and amazed. Today, NDT is still a growing field, with ongoing research and numerous applications to improve safety in manufacturing and infrastructure.
At TPAC, I work with advanced ultrasound technologies. It’s incredible what can be inspected with them! It’s the result of over a decade of work by passionate individuals, whom I admire deeply.
2. What challenges have you faced as a woman in the field and how have you overcome them?
Like many women in the industry, I’ve had negative experiences, and I still encounter them occasionally. I’ve had to be more assertive in my words and persistent over time. Sometimes, I’ve simply ignored inappropriate behavior to achieve my goals. You have to choose your battles.
For example, last year, a manager at a partner company told me, in front of my male colleague, that I should handle the paperwork with one of his female colleagues because such tasks are for women. According to him, project preparation and planning were better managed by men.
Women are not less capable than men.
What matters is bringing together the right skills and creating a good, even excellent, working environment—whether in the field or at the office. When people enjoy working together, it fosters collaboration and motivation.
3. How has your work in NDT shaped your personal and professional development?
I often find myself wondering what’s inside objects. Seriously, NDT brings together physics, mathematics, electronics, mechanics, chemistry, and computer science—so many fascinating topics. In essence, NDT is a concentrated field! You learn something new every day, and you can build an entire career in it. Everyone finds their niche.
4. Can you share a memorable situation that other women in NDT can relate to?
Whenever I board a plane, I always hope my fellow NDT professionals used the right equipment and conducted the tests properly. What about you?
The NDT community is international and relatively small compared to other technical fields. This is probably why exchanges are so quick and fruitful, and why we love seeing each other at every event.
I enjoy understanding the technical or industrial challenges that each person faces. Experience has shown me that when I suggest potential ideas to help someone resolve their issues, their company often tests them out. I’ve noticed this during site visits—some problems were eliminated, allowing them to better define their NDT needs.
5. How do you see the future of NDT and what role do you see women playing in shaping it?
NDT has a bright future in many sectors. Moreover, it is intrinsically connected to other evolving fields, such as welding and medical diagnostics. NDT impacts our daily lives by ensuring safety and reliability in various applications.
Women have a significant role to play in steering research, advancing implementation, and sharing their experiences. I also believe this will contribute to the renewal of NDT and increase visibility for our profession.
We’ll put a “Welcome” sign on the door—for men too!
6. On International Women's Day, what is your message to other women in NDT or those aspiring to enter the field?
Whether you chose NDT intentionally or stumbled into it by chance, follow your ideas through! There’s so much to learn and contribute to.
Be careful—you might fall in love with NDT.
"At TPAC, we love looking at the bigger picture to find what works best— not too much, not too little."
Marianne Kang
About Marianne Kang:
I am Marianne, a happy Business Development Manager at TPAC. TPAC stands for “The Phased Array Company,” referring to an advanced ultrasound technique. As a Business Development Manager, my role is to promote our activities and support our clients with their ultrasound inspection needs.
I worked for five years at an aeronautics fly-by-wire equipment manufacturer, in both project management and the sales department. After that, I joined SGS as a sales engineer for the aerospace industry and later as a business developer for renewable energies. SGS is one of the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification companies, operating globally. I spent eight years there.
Now, I have joined the TPAC team as a Business Development Manager for Europe. I focus on ultrasound technologies and their various applications across industries.
At TPAC, we work closely with both academic researchers and industry professionals, helping them leverage advanced ultrasound solutions to achieve their goals. We are passionate about this technology and continuously strive to push its limits.
Thank you to NDT.net for honoring WomeninNDT.
Read the other stories of other women in NDT.
