Next-Generation Technology for Improved Asset Reliability

Inspectioneering's 14th biannual "Meeting of the Minds" (MOTM) roundtable discussion convened last November in Dallas, Texas, gathering a select group of mechanical integrity (MI) leaders from across the refining/petrochemical, midstream, offshore production, and chemical processing sectors. Supported by EQUITY, this forum provided a platform for participants to openly share experiences, discuss innovative ideas, and identify opportunities to enhance their MI programs.

Previous MOTM discussions, summarized in the Inspectioneering Journal archives, have covered critical topics such as corrosion under insulation (CUI) programs, risk-based inspection (RBI), data collection, analysis, and validation, organizational capability and competency development, new software tools and NDE technologies, and most recently, leveraging industry codes and standards.

The Fall 2024 meeting centered on the theme of "Next Generation Technology for Improved Asset Reliability," spotlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced sensor technologies, and robotics. This recap article highlights key takeaways from the discussion, including current applications, successes, challenges, and potential areas for improvement.

Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Fixed Equipment Reliability?

A poll conducted at the outset of the meeting revealed that most attendees believe AI will significantly impact their work within the next three years, with several already actively integrating AI into their Fixed Equipment Reliability Programs.

However, the discussion quickly addressed the need for a common understanding of AI. As one person noted, “Artificial intelligence takes many shapes and different forms … a ‘smart query’ is not artificial intelligence.” This was a good starting point because one of the common problems with AI right now is that most people don’t really understand it or the associated terminology.

Google defines AI as “a set of technologies that enable computers to perform a variety of advanced functions, including the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, analyze data, make recommendations, and more.” The reality is "smart queries" can leverage AI techniques like machine learning and natural language processing. These techniques enhance search functionality by interpreting user intent and context, moving beyond simple keyword matching.