How to Create and Update Inspection Plans with the Mechanical Integrity Suite
A practical walkthrough for building, updating, and maintaining inspection plans inside VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite.
In the industrial sector, managing inspection records and planning future inspections are crucial tasks for ensuring asset integrity and operational continuity. VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite (MI) offers a comprehensive solution for these tasks. This article explores how to create and update inspection plans using the suite, demonstrating its capabilities and benefits.
Inspection Work Planning with the Mechanical Integrity Suite
The Mechanical Integrity Suite by VisualAIM is designed to simplify and enhance the management of inspection data. It provides a centralized platform for creating, updating, and tracking inspection plans, ensuring that all necessary inspections are scheduled and completed on time and that observations/non-conformances are properly managed and remediated.
Creating and Updating Inspection Plans
Accessing the Inspection Work Plan
To begin, navigate to the inspection work plan for the asset in question. For instance, select asset V10001 from the inventory. This step assumes that you have already created the initial record in the previous inspections section.
Creating a New Inspection Work Plan
Click the plus (+) icon at the top of the inspection schedule table to create a new inspection work plan. This will generate a new entry in the table with predefined inspection strategies. For a pressure vessel, these might include a visual external inspection every five years and a UT (Ultrasonic Testing) thickness inspection every ten years.
Options for Inspection Strategies
Choose from predefined strategies, reuse methods from a previous inspection plan, or add new inspection methods based on the latest findings.
Reusing Previous Inspection Methods
Review the methods used in a previous plan, such as visual external inspection, UT thickness, and liquid penetrant testing. Bring those methods forward, then update the last inspection dates and intervals.
Adding New Inspection Tasks
Add a new method such as drone inspection, define its properties, and schedule it alongside the appropriate future inspection activities.
Saving the Inspection Work Plan
Save the plan so the new record appears in the inspection schedule table with all required methods and dates documented.
Use predefined strategies
Apply the preset inspection methods already associated with the asset type.
Reuse previous methods
Carry forward methods and tasks from the asset’s prior inspection plan.
Add new methods
Introduce additional tasks based on findings, risk, or changing inspection needs.
Benefits of Using VisualAIM’s MI Suite
Centralized Data Management
All inspection data is stored in one place, making it easier to access, review, and manage.
Flexible Planning
Create, update, and customize inspection plans around asset-specific needs and current findings.
Efficiency and Compliance
Automated scheduling and record-keeping support regulatory requirements and internal maintenance standards.
Better Inspection Planning
Reuse prior methods and add new tasks to improve the thoroughness and accuracy of each plan.
VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite is a powerful tool for managing inspection data and planning future inspections. By providing a centralized, flexible platform, The MI Suite enhances efficiency, compliance, and asset integrity. With features that allow for detailed customization and easy updating of inspection plans, the MI Suite ensures that inspectors and managers have the necessary information to implement and execute the site inspection strategy. Still have questions? Click here to contact our team.
Plan inspections with better context, consistency, and control.
VisualAIM centralizes inspection methods, schedules, asset history, findings, and follow-up work so teams can execute the site inspection strategy with confidence.
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