Asset assessments involve monitoring assets periodically, and using the data collected from those inspections to determine the condition of the asset and often the rate of degradation. The analysis of inspection data may show that an asset needs preventative maintenance in order to ensure that the asset meets the expected useful life or that the asset is due for replacement. Understanding the condition of an asset can also help you determine if the asset is being operated and maintained correctly and highlight possible competency issues (some of which may lead to safety incidences in the future if unchecked).
We offer Condition audits and surveys for both asset owner/operators, lessors and lessees.
Why do asset condition inspections?
If you own an asset, it is generally for a purpose. You generally want it to return its investment and contribute to making profit. To ensure that it keeps doing this it must be maintained. Often the users of such assets do not always have the same requirements as the owner and maintenance can be missed or performed poorly in order to meet production or performance demands and long term viability of an asset is all too often forgotten.
Asset owner/operators, lessors and lessees all have differing perspectives on the condition and value of an asset, however all can benefit from taking steps to protect their investments. It should be noted that there is little point undertaking maintenance optimisation tasks until an accurate view of existing condition is obtained.
Another reason for asset condition inspections is when they are initially delivered or commissioned in order to provide a baseline against which to assess condition in the future or to ensure that the supplier is delivering the asset in the expected state.
An independent condition assessment/audit is often the best method to fully understand how an asset is being used and maintained and ensure that you get the most from it, for as long as possible and understand its residual value. Tribe Engineering have performed Asset condition inspections for many clients both on a one-off and on-going basis.
How we do it:
Scope definition
The most important element of an asset condition inspection is to define not only which assets require inspection, but what the inspection will be looking for. Understanding the criticality of various components and systems is key, as is an understanding of the types of failure modes one could expect to observe. This must be done with knowledge of the operating context, duty cycle and expected life of an asset. Sometimes benchmarking against similar assets can help define the scope.
Once the correct level of familiarity of an asset is gained, an inspection checklist can be created that ensures the inspections are consistent, and attention is given to the most important areas.
Inspection/assessment
After defining a scope we can attend your premises or asset and provide a comprehensive condition audit to help you determine a replacement or overhaul program/schedule, define a Condition Based Maintenance regime or simply to determine that an asset is being suitably maintained by the maintainer and used properly by the operator (especially in the case of leased assets).
For the fullest picture of the assets condition, a review of maintenance records, maintenance schedules and operating logs is recommended.
Reporting of findings
Following an inspection, we generally compile and provide the client with a report (unless requested otherwise – i.e. to present findings verbally) that covers the following areas:
- Scope;
- Assets assessed;
- Where;
- When;
- Findings;
- Commentary;
- Recommendations.
Wherever possible, our findings are accompanied with photographic or measurement data as supporting evidence.
Some clients also request a summary report or presentation that can be used for non-technical stakeholders such as shareholders, board of directors and management.
