Applying the PERI Model to Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity

Introduction

This article is all about approaching Nirvana in Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity (FEMI). What is Nirvana in FEMI? In my mind it’s the idyllic place we would all like to be when it comes to inspection planning. It’s the time and place where inspection and repair planning are as good as they can be and no more improvements to the work processes are needed. The PERI model can help us get there by achieving excellence in inspection planning

Is your PERI work process as good as it can be? This article is all about how to make continuous improvements in your FEMI work process using the Plan-Execute-Review-Improve (PERI) work process ^[1]. The PERI work process shown in Figure 1 is a repetitive model for creating excellence in all our FEMI activities. The PERI work process is similar to Deming’s PDCA work process, which stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, but the PERI model is simpler and more oriented toward FEMI activities ^[2]. The PDCA cycle, on the other hand, is much more encompassing and can be confusing when applied to the FEMI work process because of its wide range of applicability in total quality management of business processes.

As Vince Lombardi (the first football Superbowl winning coach) once said: “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” So if you would like to achieve excellence in your FEMI work process, read on.

What does “perfection” look like in the FEMI business? Here’s an example using an inspection of a column/tower during a turnaround. In this example, perfection in our FEMI work process might mean that:

• We do a very thorough job at Planning (the “P” in PERI) the inspection of a column during a turnaround at the lowest reasonable time and cost using excellent records and the guidance of a corrosion specialist to produce a detailed plan.
• We then implement that plan during the turnaround and carry out the detailed inspection. We Execute (the “E” in PERI) the plan exactly as documented and find out that the plan was perfect (i.e., everything we found in the thorough inspection was exactly what was expected by the inspection planners). No adjustments to the plan were needed during the turnaround. It was conducted within the time predicted and produced only the repair recommendations expected and planned for.