When most people think of RBI they think of the term “RBI it away” as in completing an RBI assessment to make an overdue inspection disappear. These people are very short sighted in their views of RBI’s capabilities. RBI is a powerful equipment life-cycle tool that can predict damage out into the future, and the API codes allow you to take full advantage of this technology.
As a maintenance manager with an ever-dwindling budget why wouldn’t you utilize RBI for a long term plan. With all of the software packages available you are just a few clicks away from a 25 year plan for any piece of equipment in your plant. RBI even tells you the exact inspection necessary, so not only can you start looking at your future budget, but also staffing and contractor needs.
Now I understand that there are no exacts in this industry, especially when it comes to the maintenance world; there will always be the inevitable upset or telltale that shows up. But, by using RBI you can put real life-cycle based numbers to your next 10 turnarounds. Not just monetary but also quantity of inspections and type of NDE required. With that type of knowledge, your ability to plan for success increases exponentially. You will be able to provide upper management with a long-term view of maintenance requirements, you will know which battles you need to win with turnaround planners, and if needed you can provide full justification for budget increases in years with major spends.
While RBI will continue to be used in the short term to defer inspections, its real power lies in its ability to create a long term plan. Have you thought about using it for the long term?