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For further details and to book your place at the event, please visit the event website.
Please provide us with a brief overview of your current role and how it exposes you to ageing assets?
Ian Chapman (IC): I work as a front line specialist mechanical engineering inspector at major hazard sites were the effective management of the containment boundary is critical in managing risk. This work exposes me to a variety of industries, most of which are well established and employ and rely upon aged assets and infrastructure.
What do you see as the key priorities for engineers faced with this challenge?
IC: Ensuring sufficient competent resource and effective management systems are employed in the management of such assets in safety critical applications against a backdrop of changing technologies and tough economic climate.
What new strategies or projects in asset management do you think have the potential to change things for the better?
IC: I feel there is a need to develop better strategies for assessing potential novel and emerging threats and challenges that may impact asset integrity management in ways not adequately considered previously.
Industry needs to be able to demonstrate and validate emerging technologies effectively to drive acceptance and suitable application in an expedient manner that may offset or mitigate some impacts of immerging threats or challenges.
What are the risks for organisations who don’t take a proactive approach?
IC: A particular risk or challenge is that when fabric maintenance deferral becomes systematic in reducing operational costs, there rapidly becomes a point where recovery to a level considered to be acceptable becomes increasingly costly complex with plant operating with an elevated risk profile in the interim.
What will you be addressing in your presentation at this year’s conference?
IC: I will be discussing the impact of recent global and more local challenges have had on the maintenance and inspection regimes applied in organisations operating in industries with Major Accident Potential. The discussion will be extended to discuss potential further emerging challenges to safe operation of plant and equipment due external factors such as global conflict, climate change etc.
What other topics or speakers are you most looking forward to?
IC: I am looking forward to listening to the variety of speakers and interaction with questions and discussion at break-out sessions and breaks.
Why is it so important for engineers to come together at this conference?
IC: I feel it is important for engineers to come together on such occasions to be able to share experience, learn from others but also contemplate and consider the topics under discussion to develop further understanding within the wider group, and within a neutral environment.