Asset integrity reviews and management programs are typically seen as a costly exercise and are usually one of the first items to be placed on the chopping block when the budgetary axe is wielded. This way of thinking can end up costing the business more in the long run by not identifying defects or deficiencies on critical assets. Do you currently know the condition of your critical assets? Better yet – have you completed a criticality assessment of your site and identified your critical assets?
Asset integrity aims to provide confidence that critical assets are fit for purpose, and are being safely operated and maintained, so that they can sustainably achieve their required function(s) without impacting the health and safety of people, the environment, or the business itself. Asset integrity is managed via a system or program and is commonly referred to as an Asset Integrity Management System (AIMS) or Asset Integrity Assessment Program (AIAP). The system or program should not be complex and can be as simple as a 5-step process:
- Identification – identify assets that are to be included in the assessment.
- Inspection and Assessment – inspections and reviews are conducted to develop an asset health snapshot and defect register.
- Rectification – remediation works are carried out to address the items called out in the asset defect registers.
- Validation – rectification works are validated to ensure improvements have been implemented to address the identified risks.
- Evaluation – lessons learnt are recorded and used to improve the asset integrity process, whereby the cycle recommences at a regular interval.
What program or system do you have in place to manage the integrity of your assets? Do you have a process in place or are you just relying on the current maintenance strategies to provide you with a snapshot of your asset’s health? How easy is it to enquire about the health of a particular asset onsite?
The intent of an AIMS or AIAP should not be to extend the life of an asset as much as possible. Instead, the program should concentrate on ensuring the consistent performance of the asset over its entire life cycle to deliver the objectives of the business. An AIMS or AIAP ensures the correct people, processes, resources, and systems are in place to maintain the integrity of an asset or system of assets. So, in a way, asset integrity management is about a business re-calibrating its asset management plans by comparing the actual condition and performance of an asset against what was expected in the plan at that stage of its life cycle. The AIMS or AIAP will also provide total transparency on the health of your assets.
Over the years, we have seen some devastating asset failures across multiple industries. Dams, conveyors, ship loaders, electrical infrastructure, tanks, mobile equipment; when these assets fail catastrophically – such as a structural collapse, fire, or explosion – they can result in deaths, environmental damage, and economic losses in the millions. Our approach considers first-hand experience and knowledge of catastrophic asset failures. The simplified approach we take towards asset integrity allows everyone from the workers on the floor up to the CEO to be a part of the process.
Through our extensive experience across multiple industries, the Bluefield team have come to appreciate the importance of having an asset integrity process and ensuring it does not get cut from the budget. In addition to our expertise with managing asset integrity, we are experienced in prioritising defects and facilitating the completion of improvement initiatives in line with the organisation’s objectives.
If you are looking for support from a partner who can help you build a lasting pathway to getting more from assets, please contact Bluefield today.
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