Michael K. Kotouzas
Michael Kotouzas (1954-2012) was born in Nikaia of Attica. He grew up in Volos, where he graduated from high school. He continued his studies at the Polytechnic School of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki at the Department of Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, from where he graduated in1977 with Honors degree.. He dedicated his career and most of his life to the industry of Non Destructive Testing (NDT).Soon he was one of the first Level 3 engineers in Greece, certified in all the NDT methods. His passion for the industry urged him to continue his studies and develop his knowledge, by doing an MSc in Quality Management after receiving a full scholarship from the E.U.
In 1999 he founded in Technology and Quality Control Center (TQCC), in collaboration with Lavender International, one of the leading companies worldwide in the industry of NDT. The subject area of the company was the sophisticated training and certification of the personnel and the ultimate goal of the company was raising the national levels of expertise in NDT equivalent to high international standards worldwide. During the 13 years that he was the director of TQCC he trained a large number of NDT operators and he was considered an expert on NDT worldwide, from Germany to S. Korea, where he had successfully undertaken several projects. His work affected the national NDT industry, by introducing the importance of certifying the working personnel and ultimately contributing to the upgrading of the quality of the produced products.
He never stopped learning and evolving through his work. He was the author of several articles and papers that were presented at national and international conferences and his educational papers were considered top in the NDT industry.
He was one of the founders and many times a board member of the Hellenic Society for Non-Destructive Testing (H.S.N.T.).
Additionally, he was a member of the American Society for Quality (A.S.Q.) and the American Society for Non-Destructive Testing. Finally, he was the head of the National Accreditation Council responsible for the certification of Non Destructive Testing workshops.
Michael Kotouzas was a pioneer of Non Destructive Testing industry and his overall contribution to the field was the achievement of his life. In the next years his name will be linked to the field of NDT and everyone he had trained or met him will always remember him as a man with great knowledge, passion for the subject and a kind hearted man with an admirable character.