How Does a Mechanical Integrity Audit Work?
Many construction process industries demand frequent mechanical integrity audits to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. The key areas of audit are: production, fabrication, inspection, and maintenance. This article is designed to give you the basics on mechanical integrity audits in construction read on for more helpful tips. Mechanical integrity auditors (M.I. An examiner) in this industry must have the following qualifications:
A M.I. inspector (MEI) is a qualified individual who has acquired both general engineering knowledge and mechanical integrity audits experience. MEIs perform mechanical integrity audits that address the entire life cycle costing of products in manufacturing. This includes plant productivity, material cost savings, and waste elimination.
A manufacturer's (M.G. O.E.) inspector is a professional who possesses a two-year certification from a manufacturer specializing in mechanical integrity assessments. A M.G.O. inspects production plants, components, and systems, and produces periodic reports for the satisfaction of management.
Inspectors perform mechanical integrity audits at all levels of the supply chain to assure consistent quality performance and to prevent supply chain risk. Manufacturing plant inspections are conducted before product release to reduce turnaround times, improve onsite productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Components and system inspections are performed after product release to identify potential issues before they become critical safety concerns. Inspection procedures include an assessment of manufacturing equipment, procedures used to test and evaluate equipment, hazard identification and mitigation procedures, and control methods and equipment employed to mitigate issues identified during inspection. The final test inspection targets specific facility risks, an aspect of the inspection that is frequently overlooked and which can lead to unexpected outcomes.
Inspection programs must have a plan to address the key processes and components to reduce or prevent failures and increase onsite productivity. A good inspection program includes preventive maintenance and repair strategies to minimize downtime and improve onsite productivity. Good inspections also develop procedures to address potential failures, repairs, and modifications. To develop good inspection programs, management needs to develop guidelines to define test procedures, identify risks, and monitor and manage them. Management also needs to determine what test requirements will be needed to identify problems. Standard test requirements for mechanical integrity audits must be developed to allow testing for all types of potential failures. Look out for this mechanical integrity program audit now.
An effective mechanical integrity program includes a detailed scheduling process to provide an estimate of schedule times for testing, providing an estimate of potential program cost, and evaluating test results and corrective actions. Proper training for management staff and supervisors helps ensure compliance with program requirements. In addition to having program requirements in place, companies also need to have policies and procedures in place to implement them. Some organizations conduct mechanical integrity audits on a regular basis and others contract with outside agencies to perform these tests. Both methods result in good estimates of time and costs associated with the program. Companies may also use an auditor to review their mechanical integrity program when it is being completed or during a reevaluation period. Find out more details in relation to this topic here: https://www.encyclopedia.com/finance/finance-and-accounting-magazines/ethics-accounting.
