Before revision:  As the industry goes through the fourth revolution powered by interconnections and enhanced digitalization, NDE is also on a new horizon : NDE 4.0 with information transparency, technical assistance, autonomous, and decentralized decisions. Technologies such as IIoT, AR, AI, 5G, and blockchains are opening up new inspection and safety assurance possibilities in every industrial sector. To establish a proper foundation for technical research on this emerging subject, it is important to first research the perception of stakeholders , misconceptions around NDE, the value proposition of NDE 4.0 , the challenges and opportunities, and even outline a process to pursue it.
After revision:  As the industry goes through the fourth revolution powered by interconnections and enhanced digitalization, NDE is also on a new horizon : NDE 4.0 . The NDT community is coming together once again to define the purpose, chart the process, and address the adoption of emerging technologies. In this paper, the authors have taken a design thinking approach to spotlight proper objectives for research on this emerging subject, it is important to first research the perception of stakeholders , misconceptions around NDE, the value proposition of NDE 4.0 , the challenges and opportunities, and even outline a process to pursue it.