Hitesh Bhai Patel

Hitesh Bhai Patel is a Senior Inspection Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in third-party inspection, expediting, QA/QC, mechanical equipment, welding, piping, and coating inspection. He has inspected centrifugal and vacuum pumps, valves, pressure vessels, storage tanks, heat exchangers, process piping, structural steel, RTR/GRP piping, fittings, flanges, and coated materials. His technical scope includes FAT, mechanical running and performance testing, hydrostatic and pressure testing, API 598/API 6D valve testing, welding inspection, NDT coordination, dimensional control, material verification, and coating inspection. He manages inspection activities against approved ITPs, drawings, procedures, codes, and specifications, while preparing reports, NCRs, IRCs/IRNs, weld maps, MDRs, and quality records. He also supports audits, KPI monitoring, root-cause analysis, CAPA, and nonconformance closure.

Apr 2026 – Present TPI AGENCY

Sr Inspection Engineer

Chaired pre-inspection meetings and other meetings as required.
Liaised with clients and relevant parties to determine inspection stages and requirements.
Provided technical input into quotations as required.
Visited manufacturers, suppliers, installers, and other facilities to perform or witness initial, in-progress, and final inspections in accordance with ITPs.
Performed inspections of pressure vessels, structural steel, tanks, fasteners, gaskets, valves, pressure relief valves, control valves, fittings, cranes, fabricated pipes, line pipes, FBE coating, and liquid coating.
Established and maintained processes to monitor benchmark progress in quality assurance activities.
Coordinated inspection activities for process piping, pressure vessels, pumps, exchangers, and storage tanks.
Performed QA/QC inspection activities, reviewed welding procedures, witnessed welder qualifications, and monitored consumables-control records.
Reviewed incoming material test certificates for structural steel shapes, flanges, nozzle pipes, structural steel plates, electrodes, and filler wires against material traceability.
Performed weld visual and dimensional inspections of storage tanks, pipes, and structural works in accordance with API 650.
Inspected tank roundness, peaking, plumpness, and banding in accordance with API 650.
Inspected centrifugal pumps and static/rotating equipment in accordance with API 610.
Witnessed hydrostatic testing of pump casings, centrifugal pump impeller run-out and dynamic-balance tests, pump performance tests, and pump running tests including NPSH where applicable.
Witnessed set-pressure, pop, and hydrostatic tests on relief valves and control valves at vendor facilities.
Inspected flow-control and block valves, including globe, gate, butterfly, check, plug, and ball valves.
Witnessed valve shipment inspections and verified that valves were maintained in an upright position during transit.
Performed in-process and final inspections of RTR/GRP piping materials, including dimensional checks to ASTM D-3567, hydro leak testing to AWWA C950-95, and mechanical testing to ASTM D-2412.
Ensured that accurate and complete technical documentation was available for inspection activities.
Verified that manufacturing activities complied with contract provisions and specifications and that vendors followed approved ITPs.
Verified that test equipment and instruments were controlled, suitable, and calibrated.
Ensured that checks and tests complied with applicable codes and technical specifications and that results conformed to requirements.
Reviewed previously completed test certificates and confirmed compliance with specifications.
Issued inspection reports to the PIC, raised NCRs for nonconforming items, and prepared and issued IRCs.
Inspected flanges, gaskets, fittings, fasteners, elbows, and similar items in accordance with applicable construction codes and project specifications.
Performed dimensional and visual inspections of heat exchangers and pressure vessels at manufacturers’ facilities.
Witnessed procedure qualification tests (PQR) in accordance with welding procedure specifications (WPS).
Performed welding inspections in fabrication shops and at site in accordance with approved WPSs.
Coordinated RT, UT, MT, and PT examinations of welds and pressure tests in accordance with approved procedures and QC plans.
Monitored preheating before welding and interpass temperatures during welding.
Performed welding and piping inspections against approved engineering drawings and layouts.
Prepared weld maps for pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and storage tanks.
Monitored electrode-issuing procedures, filler wires, welding gas, and baking and holding oven calibrations.
Monitored welder performance using radiographic inspection results and maintained related reports.
Witnessed vacuum tests on lap joints, hydrostatic tests, pneumatic tests, and reinforcement-pad tests.
Performed visual inspection of plant piping in accordance with ASME B31.3 and API-1104.
Managed welding inspection activities at site and in fabrication shops.
Monitored post-weld heat treatment, including heating rate, soaking time, and cooling rate.
Performed final Level-I inspections, including document review and visual and dimensional inspection, of pipes, fittings, flanges, valves, and gaskets at stockist facilities against purchase orders, ITPs, and IAP requirements.
Reviewed vendor quality-record compilations for inclusion in Manufacturing Data Record Books.
Prepared and issued NCRs for nonconformities at vendor and sub-vendor premises.
Ensured that NCRs were closed before shipment of items.
Issued IRNs/IRCs for completed items without NCRs or discrepancies.
Witnessed shipment inspections in accordance with project requirements.
Reviewed Manufacturers’ Data Records (MDRs).
Reviewed project packages, scopes of work, and technical documents.
Monitored and assessed QA/QC requirements.
Attended and reported kick-off meetings and pre-inspection meetings before project commencement.
Prepared and presented quality reports in weekly Quality Review Meetings.
Monitored and controlled quality indices and KPIs.
Prepared management review reports.
Implemented project quality plans and reviewed and approved inspection procedures.
Reviewed job sheets, material requirements, and inspection requirements.
Prepared and revised QA/QC manuals.
Conducted internal audits for company departments and external audits of subcontractors and vendors.
Monitored and analyzed welder repair rates and reviewed related reports.
Verified and tracked nonconformances through proper closure.
Initiated root-cause analyses and proposed corrective and preventive actions.
Estimated and controlled quality and NDT activity costs.
Reviewed WPS/PQRs, NDT plans, radiographic interpretations, and test certifications.
Managed client inspections, pre-inspection meetings, and milestone activities.
Inspected and documented carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy, and non-ferrous materials.
Performed external and internal inspections of pressure vessels, columns, heat exchangers, reactors, reformers, knock-out drums, fin-fan coolers, piping systems, tanks, and flares.
Reviewed equipment data sheets and previous inspection histories and monitored hold points for fin-fan coolers, heat exchangers, columns, and pressure vessels.
Reviewed drawings, material test certificates, and material dimensions.
Performed external and CUI inspections of piping and pressure vessels in accordance with API requirements.
Coordinated inspection scheduling and planning with operations, planning, and maintenance supervisors, including permits and special equipment audits.
Checked safety relief valve condition, witnessed pressure setting before and after repair and during recalibration campaigns, prepared reports, scheduled testing frequencies, and entered inspection data.
Witnessed pressure safety valve calibration.
Performed in-process and material inspections, preheating and post-heating checks, and PWHT during nozzle replacement, retubing, lining, and other repair work.
Performed final visual and dimensional inspections and prepared as-built drawings.
Prepared daily reports and updated equipment data cards and history cards.
Reviewed PWHT charts.
Reviewed approved inspection and test plans and project painting specifications.
Arranged painting inspection tools in accordance with ITPs.
Conducted toolbox meetings with construction personnel.
Verified mechanical clearance before blasting and painting activities.
Applied Saudi Aramco standards and relevant SAES, SAEP, SSPC, SAMSS, NACE, and project specifications.
Checked blasting and painting materials against SAES-H-100, SAES-H-101V, and client specifications.
Inspected internal and external blasting and painting of storage tank bottoms, shells, and roof undersides.
Verified approved painting procedures and compliance with APCS or project specifications.
Prepared and verified documentation for coating personnel qualification in accordance with SAEP-316 or project specifications.
Conducted technical workshops for painting crews.
Conducted mock-up tests for blasters and painters.
Prepared JCCs for blasters, painters, and crew supervisors in accordance with SAEP-316.
Qualified blasters and painters.
Checked weather conditions and substrate temperatures before blasting and painting.
Verified calibration and certificates for blasting and painting equipment and painting inspection tools.
Ensured safety requirements for blasting and painting activities.
Checked abrasive quality and conducted blotter testing before blasting.
Visually inspected surfaces for defects in accordance with SSPC VIS 1 and SIS 05-59-00.
Conducted salt-conductivity testing on blasted surfaces where applicable.
Verified surface preparation before primer application and checked blasted-surface profiles for defects.
Verified paint mixing and reviewed paint manufacturer data sheets.
Verified wet film thickness during painting application and dry film thickness for primer, intermediate, and final coats.
Conducted holiday testing in accordance with NACE RP 1088 and adhesion testing using the dolly test.
Prepared inspection reports and checklists for each process stage using SAIC and SATR.
Prepared weekly coating-activity progress reports.
Coordinated site activities with paint manufacturers’ technical teams.
Verified the quality of completed coating work.

Summary

Education

Qualifications and Training

Codes & Standards

Work Experience

Skills

Commodities