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Highlights from Inspectioneering’s Latest Editorial Board Meeting

By Greg Alvarado, Chief Editor at Inspectioneering. June 30, 2021
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We make it a high priority to keep our readers informed and up to date with the latest in technology and management systems related to asset integrity management. To do so, we depend on feedback from the Inspectioneering community (read: you) as well as wisdom and guidance from the Inspectioneering Editorial Board.

Each member of our Editorial Board represents over 30 years of active industry experience as subject matter experts in the same areas that Inspectioneering readers have vested interests.

Inspectioneering hosts two Editorial Board meetings each year to glean insight from our members. In our latest meeting, we posed this question to the board: What are the most important challenges, issues, trends, events, or advancements in inspection/mechanical integrity in 2021 and beyond?

What follows is an abridged summary of their answers:

  • The industry is writing too many standards; how can we make sense of it all?
    • There needs to be some discussions on which standards are really needed and important.
    • Consider overarching documents that show everything that is needed at one’s site and spell out a hierarchy (which may vary based on jurisdiction).
  • Understanding RAGAGEPs, which ones to be applied, why they should be applied, etc.
  • Updates on the latest version of API RP 751 (re: Safe Operation of HF Alky Units) and the changes to section 6.
  • How to progress from a recently certified inspector to a great inspector?
  • There is a need for more foundational content to help out the 0-5 year group of professionals that are focused on very specific technical aspects of the industry.
  • Young inspectors need training programs that consider the full life cycle of assets. There is too much reliance on the knowledge of those who “have one foot out the door.”
  • The industry needs more context on the history of why things are the way they are now. What triggered the initial creation of various documents? What happened behind the scenes?
  • “Back to the basics” type articles on topics such as metallurgy, welding, etc.
  • Raise awareness and provide context on OSHA’s May 2016 letter.
  • Piping RBI: Who is doing it the right way? What is the right way?
  • Historical lessons learned: How did failures lead to the development of various documents (e.g., the incident that led to the creation of API 932)?
  • Problems faced with design changes (e.g., converting to green fuel hydrotreaters).
  • Leveraging technology
    • Are there any easy wins for companies that may be using very old technologies? For example, AutoCAD has been around forever, so why are some sites still not using it?
    • What considerations need to be made when moving forward with new technology? For example, before flying drones, one needs to consider permitting, licensing, etc.

We look forward to getting your input on these topics and ideas and adding a few of your own. Thanks in advance!


Comments and Discussion

Posted by Rajaram Chidambaram on August 17, 2021
I think Data Analytics will become increasingly... Log in or register to read the rest of this comment.

Posted by Michael C Smith on October 11, 2021
Piping RBI, Lessons Learned, and 0-5 year plan... Log in or register to read the rest of this comment.

(Inspectioneering) Posted by Greg Alvarado on October 12, 2021 (Edited on October 12, 2021)
Thanks for the great suggestions Mike!... Log in or register to read the rest of this comment.

Posted by Michael C Smith on October 12, 2021
Thanks Greg...good stuff!! Log in or register to read the rest of this comment.

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