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1. Introduction: Non-destructive testing is an essential and effective tool for industrial development; it reflects to a certain extent the level of industrial advancement in a country, and its importance has been widely recognized. In our country, non-destructive testing technology has been integrated into the **overall economic development goals**, and it is being used to address the safety issues associated with large-scale engineering projects that require urgent attention, as well as other major projects related to safety and people’s well-being. With the development and creation of some major non-destructive testing instruments included in **special development plans, China’s non-destructive testing technology is now advancing on a much higher level than at any time before. The emergence of new materials, new manufacturing technologies, and new processing methods poses challenges to traditional non-destructive testing techniques, while the advent of new sensor technologies, cloud computing, and big data poses challenges to the traditional concepts of non-destructive testing itself. To adapt to this rapidly changing world, NDT professionals must have a sense of urgency. 2. The ‘difficulties’ faced by non-destructive testing in China require addressing. Although the overall level and comprehensive capabilities of non-destructive testing in China have improved significantly, and China holds an important position in the world in terms of research into the basic theories of non-destructive testing, technology development, and the design and production of related instruments, overall, manufacturers of non-destructive testing instruments and equipment in China still do not yet possess the capability to compete on the international stage in certain areas. There is still significant room for improvement in the production and manufacturing of non-destructive testing equipment in our country to meet the increasingly complex requirements of such testing. This is especially true regarding equipment designed for new types of non-destructive testing techniques, such as those used for inspecting concrete structures, conducting underwater inspections, and testing urban underground pipelines. In the manufacturing of some high-end non-destructive testing instruments and equipment, the overall level of developed countries such as Europe and the United States is higher than ours. It is particularly worth mentioning digital radiographic inspection, a highly promising green inspection technology. Although China has made rapid progress in this field and some inspection standards have been developed, its core component – the digital image plate – still relies on imports from abroad, which to some extent limits the development of this technology; however, this is an issue that needs to be addressed at a **strategic level**. Furthermore, in the fields of infrared and laser detection, their high-end equipment also relies heavily on imports from abroad. In recent years, **has increased its investment in advanced non-destructive testing technologies. Manufacturers and sellers of such testing equipment also need to invest more in the development of new, high-end products, in an effort to address the situation where there are too many low-end products of this type, while no manufacturers are developing high-end products. 3. New manufacturing methods pose new challenges to non-destructive testing. Traditionally, the metal materials subject to non-destructive testing have been manufactured using conventional \"removal-based\" methods; in these processes, excess material is removed from the raw material through cutting, grinding, corrosion, melting, etc., to obtain components, which are then combined into the final product using assembly and welding techniques. We have a fairly good understanding of the defect types in these forged, cast, and welded parts. The new manufacturing method, known as 3D printing, is a type of additive manufacturing process. It involves adding material, using data from 3D CAD models, and then creating a three-dimensional physical object that exactly matches the corresponding mathematical model, layer by layer. Methods for creating models through additive manufacturing include laser powder sintering, laser curing, and fused deposition modeling. We know very little about the defects in metal components formed in this way. It is necessary to conduct prior research and careful consideration regarding what kind of defects may arise from various additive manufacturing methods, as well as whether and what testing techniques and methods are needed to detect these defects and assess their severity. 4. Challenges posed by micro, nano, and precision manufacturing technologies to non-destructive testing: Traditional non-destructive testing has always been aimed at detecting macroscopic defects. Micro, nano, and precision manufacturing technologies have given rise to objects that need to be inspected at the micro-nano scale. Although they are much larger than microscopic sizes, they are by no means macroscopic defects in the traditional sense. How traditional testing methods can be improved to address the challenges posed by these defects, whether ultrasonic microscopy, microwave testing, and terahertz testing techniques can be utilized in this field, and how to apply these techniques are all issues that require careful consideration and resolution through research. 5. Challenges to non-destructive testing posed by the widespread use of composite structural components. Composite structural components will be used extensively in future civil aviation aircraft as well as fourth and fifth generation military aircraft. These components will serve as the main load-bearing elements; they not only have complex shapes but also, due to the use of bulk molding techniques in their production, their inspection methods and considerations differ significantly from those applied to composite structures manufactured using traditional methods in the past. The non-destructive testing team at Beihang University, led by Zhou Zhenggan, has made some progress in the testing of composite laminates; they have achieved significant advances by applying laser ultrasound technology to the detection of delamination defects in laminates. Liu Songping and his colleagues proposed the use of high-resolution ultrasound scanning imaging techniques for detecting impact damage in carbon fiber composite laminated structures, and achieved visual imaging assessment of such damage; their research is quite innovative. 6. Challenges posed to non-destructive testing in the era of big data: With the rapid development of computer technology and the emergence of big data technologies, we need to consider what non-destructive testing will look like in the future, whether traditional methods and management systems need to be changed, and whether such changes are possible. We may still lack a full understanding of the importance of big data, nor are we prepared for the revolutionary changes it could bring to us, as those who work in non-destructive testing. Yet, we are actually familiar with the core concepts of big data. Technologies such as massive data storage, massive data management, and programming models among the key technologies of cloud computing form the foundation of big data technologies. The greatest advantage of big data technology is its ability to uncover information and knowledge hidden within massive amounts of data, providing a basis for human socioeconomic activities – exactly what non-destructive testing technology requires. From multi-parameter identification to data fusion, and then to the development of cloud-based inspection methods, what NDT professionals need most is the ability to extract information regarding defects in materials or structural components from complex volumes of data, and to make a comprehensive assessment of the overall safety of the objects being inspected. This is likely precisely the advantage of big data and what we expect from it. With changes in design concepts and the continuous emergence of new high-strength, fatigue-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials, non-destructive testing itself is now faced with complex objects to be inspected and inspection data. Big data technology can compensate for errors and inaccuracies in data. For the analysis of the same issue, simple algorithms based on large amounts of data are more efficient than complex algorithms that rely on smaller datasets. Additionally, big data enables the analysis of a greater number of objects, and by monitoring changes in related factors, it is possible to predict potential future changes in those objects. Since big data can predict the development patterns of things through data correlations, it holds great potential for application in condition monitoring, health monitoring, and life expectancy prediction. Non-destructive testing professionals need to conduct preliminary and pioneering research in this field, and fortunately, some such research has already emerged in the field of non-destructive testing. 7. Challenges in the training of professionals in non-destructive testing: China is at the forefront of the world in terms of training professionals in this field, and has established a relatively sound system for such training. Firstly, there are a number of vocational and technical colleges that focus on providing vocational education in non-destructive testing and training skilled professionals with extensive practical experience in this field, such as Bohai Shipbuilding Vocational College, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Hebei Petroleum Vocational and Technical College, Changsha Air Force Vocational and Technical College, and Shaanxi Industry Vocational and Technical College. Secondly, our country has established undergraduate programs in non-destructive testing at more than a dozen universities, such as Nanchang Hangkong University, Beijing Jiaotong University, East China University of Science and Technology, and the Naval Aeronautical Engineering College. In addition, some key universities also offer programs in non-destructive testing, aimed at cultivating high-level professionals in this field with doctoral degrees or post-doctoral qualifications; examples include Tsinghua University, Beihang University, and Harbin Institute of Technology. Establishing a relatively reasonable structure and hierarchy of NDT professionals is an important strategy for addressing the challenges posed by engineering applications, as well as a long-term and effective approach. In addition to the development of academic skills, it is crucial to cultivate abilities, particularly innovation skills and the ability to solve complex problems in engineering applications. Finally, in the face of various challenges, it is particularly important to cultivate teamwork, resilience, and dedication – these being the most fundamental elements determined by the engineering application context of non-destructive testing.