The scientific and technical objectives of the project are:

1. To specify two automotive applications for which the process monitoring and NDT inspection systems developed in the project will be tested; to establish the type and size of weld imperfections to be inspected; and to produce a selection of samples with at least four types of engineered imperfections for evaluation of the developed systems:
   • Application and imperfection specification
   • Production of samples with imperfections
2. To draw up a specification for the performance targets with respect to 100% detection of selected imperfections of the process monitoring and NDT inspection systems to be developed and tested in the latter stages of the project, including the OLIWAM system:
   • OLIWAM system specification document
3. To select the NDT inspection sensor(s) to be included into the OLIWAM system and produce a design specification for integration of these sensors into the OLIWAM system:
   • OLIWAM system specification document
   • Laboratory testing results of NDT techniques
4. To develop and improve process monitoring sensors for detecting surface and sub-surface weld imperfections suitable for on-line detection of weld imperfections typically found in laser welded body-in-white assemblies and TWBs:
   • Prototype process monitoring sensors and techniques
   • Prototype weld bead inspection sensors
5. To select the process monitoring and optical weld bead inspection sensors to be included in the OLIWAM system and produce a design specification to integrate these sensors into the OLIWAM system:
   • Laboratory testing results of process monitoring sensors
6. To develop and improve at least four NDT inspection techniques, sensors and systems suitable for on-line inspection of weld imperfections typically found in laser welded TWBs and body-in-white components:
   • A prototype magnetic flux leakage (MFL) inspection system
   • A prototype electro-magnetic acoustic transducer system (EMAT) inspection system
   • A prototype eddy current (EC) system
   • A prototype digital radiography (DR) system
7. To design and assemble the OLIWAM system hardware, comprising a selection of process monitoring, optical and NDT weld bead inspection sensors, suitable for on-line monitoring and inspection of weld imperfections typically found in laser-welded TWBs and body-in-white components:
   • Hardware design document of OLIWAM system
   • Manufacture of OLIWAM hardware
   • Integration of OLIWAM system with laser welding system
8. To create a user-friendly software programme that collates signals from all process monitoring and NDT inspection sensors, which has a subroutine for processing those signals and decision-making to accept or reject laser-welded parts:
   • OLIWAM software specification document
   • Software for data acquisition and analysis for OLIWAM system
9. To test and validate the OLIWAM system performance for the on-line detection of weld imperfections in thin-sheet, laser-welded components:
   • Laboratory testing and validation results
   • Shopfloor testing results of OLIWAM system

The economic benefits of the project are:

10. Through the sale of the OLIWAM and associated NDT systems, initially to the automotive industry, but, at a later stage, to other industry sectors as well. At the end of the project (Month 24), a prototype OLIWAM system will be developed, manufactured and tested in a production environment. It is anticipated that one year after project completion, the OLIWAM system, as well as the associated NDT systems will be available commercially.

In addition to these direct economic benefits to the SME Proposers through the sale of systems developed, significant economic benefits will arise more widely after project completion, for both the SME Proposers and for the SME end users of the system(s) developed in this project, through:

11. A significant cost reduction in the inspection of laser welds in TWB and BIW automotive applications. This will be achieved by reliable, fast and effective on-line monitoring and NDT inspection.
12. Quality-assured laser welds in sheet materials thereby providing high-integrity automotive components for safety-critical structural applications.
13. Increased European competitiveness against the Japanese and US automotive and NDT industries, particularly for the SME proposers and other European SME's, achieved by the sale and use of on-line monitoring and NDT inspection techniques.
14. Maximisation of the benefits of using novel lightweight materials such as high-strength steels and aluminium in automotive applications, which require more stringent inspection.
15. Elimination of unnecessary repairs to, or failures of, completed vehicles by effective and thorough on-line inspection during part or component fabrication.
16. Penetration into new industry sectors given that the OLIWAM concept is not exclusive to the automotive sector.