Food for Thought - Risk Based Inspection (RBI)

I have observed through literally hundreds of discussions and reading numerous articles on risk-based approaches that at least one potential business pitfall is appearing when owner-operators choose to begin with a “Level 1” (very qualitative) approach. They may not have the confidence to take advantage of re-allocating resources from the “low” risk equipment to the “higher” risk equipment.

In this scenario one usually will do one of two things:

1. Risk rank your equipment for inspection prioritization, only. This can be fairly straightforward and used in very limited ways.
2. Take only the “higher” risk equipment from this lower level, fully qualitative study, and subject them to a higher order analysis. This is usually done to avoid a more data intensive “Level 2” or “Level 3” study at the outset. This is not always, but can be shortsighted. Again, it is a potential shortsightedness, only. Some have taken this course intentionally and received the benefits they desired. Let’s think this process through for those who may not have.