All industries should be aware that failure to maintain the integrity of their vessels, tanks, pipelines, oil and gas infrastructures and other assets has potential side effects on humans, environment and even on the financial aspect of the industry. The industry owner and operators of process plants should understand the importance of asset integrity in order for them to create and follow an effective Asset Integrity Management system.
Asset Integrity Management refers to the strategies and activities intended for maintaining plant assets or equipments to ensure that they remain available, safe and reliable. It includes characteristics of design, operations, maintenance and inspection of the property to maximize return from assets.
At the Offshore Southeast Asia (OSEA) 2010 conference in Singapore which was organized by Singapore Exhibition Services Pte Ltd, Francis C. Minah, the Global Director of Safety and Risk at GL Noble Denton presented an approach to asset integrity management that can help those responsible for asset integrity in high risk areas. In his presentation on “Why does the Industry need Asset Integrity Management (AIM)?” he said that by ensuring major accident barriers are in place and are rigorously maintained, major accidents or incidents can be avoided and mitigated. (to view the complete article, please see GL Proposes “Intelligent Solutions” for Asset Integrity Management).
The importance of effective asset integrity management increases as the industry asset continues to age. When industries maintain the integrity of their assets, they will have smooth operations and few interruptions which means more output and more profits for their operation. In addition, when there is an effective asset integrity management, industries will have safer process plants with less accident; fewer leaks and less damage to the environment and eventually this will lead to enhanced reputation for their organization.
It is very important for industries to focus on Asset Integrity Management. By implementing an effective Asset Integrity Management, industries will significantly reduce serious damage to human lives and to the environment and industries will even have improved business performance.
SunGlitz 