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Setting up Inspection Factors

In APM, an inspection factor matrix is generated to create one entry for each combination of degradation type, criticality, confidence factor, and (optionally) integrity group defined for the site. Each generated entry, called an inspection factor, can be assigned an inspection factor value, inspection strategy, inspection interval, or a combination of these.
You can extend the 3-dimensional inspection factor matrix to a fourth dimension: integrity group. Integrity group is identified on asset types, providing an easy mechanism to group similar assets. For example, integrity groups can be created for piping systems, vessels, and heat exchangers. For more information, see Setting up Asset Integrity Groups.
Note: 4D inspection factor matrices are a “generally available” product feature. You must first enable feature 123 to use the functionality in APM. In the Enterprise window, select the Features view and the Enabled Features tab. Click Browse, select “Inspection factor lookup based on integrity group, degradation, criticality, and confidence factor” and click OK. If APM is running as a smart client, click Refresh Enabled Features on the server. Then restart the client to use the functionality.
Inspection factor properties can be overridden by material strategies. That is, if the analysis’ primary asset has a material type, that type is matched to the applicable material strategy, which supplies the inspection factor value, inspection strategy, inspection interval, or a combination. Material strategies are created on the inspection factors to which they apply. However, you can view all defined strategies on the Material Strategies tab. (In the Site window, select the Strategy Development view, Settings tab, and then the Confidence and Material Strategies tabs.)
An inspection factor can specify which recommended strategies, for example, scheduled restoration/discard, are allowed on action plans.
When failure mode risk analysis has been performed, the analyst selects the Confidence tab on the Maintenance Action Plan window, selects a degradation type, and performs the confidence evaluation. Based on the result of the risk assessment (criticality), the selected degradation type, and the result of the confidence evaluation, APM fills in the Details area with one or more of the following values:
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Confidence factor (result of the confidence evaluation)
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Inspection factor value (from the inspection factor matrix entry)
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Inspection interval (from the inspection factor matrix entry)
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Inspection factor matrix entry (based on the criticality, degradation type, confidence factor, and optional integrity group)
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Inspection strategy (from the inspection factor matrix entry)
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Life adjustment factor (from the confidence evaluation)
This topic explains how:
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To Generate a 3D or 4D Inspection Factor Matrix
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To Work with Inspection Factors

To Generate a 3D or 4D Inspection Factor Matrix

1.
On the site’s Strategy Development view, select the Settings tab. Select the Confidence tab and the Confidence Analysis Settings node in the tree.
Tip: You can also select the site’s Administration menu, Strategy Development Settings, Risk Analysis, and then Confidence. The Strategy Development – Confidence Analysis Settings dialog appears.
2.
On the Confidence tab, select the Inspection Factors tab.
3.
If you wish to include integrity group in the matrix, select the 4D Inspection Factor Matrix tab.
4.
Click Generate. One inspection factor is created for each combination of elements. A message appears listing the entries that were generated. For example:
If no entries were created, a message appears to let you know.
5.
Click OK. The entries are listed in the appropriate tab.
You can now open each new entry to set its formatting, select an inspection strategy, and so on. You can also create inspection factors manually. See To Work with Inspection Factors.

To Work with Inspection Factors

1.
On the Inspection Factors tab, select either the 3D Inspection Factor Matrix or 4D Inspection Factor Matrix tab.
2.
Double-click an entry to open the Inspection Interval Factor dialog or the Integrity Group Inspection Factor Matrix dialog and click Edit. Or you can click New to create one. Here is an example of a generated inspection factor for a 3D matrix:
3.
Review or define the following settings:
Setting Name
Description
Degradation type
Degradation type assigned to this entry in the inspection factor matrix. The degradation type indicates the category (for example, age-related or strategy-based) and specifies the confidence questionnaire to be used for assets and their lining, if appropriate.
Criticality
Failure mode criticality value assigned to this entry in the inspection factor matrix. The failure mode’s criticality describes the severity of failure consequences.
Confidence factor
Confidence factor assigned to this entry in the inspection factor matrix.
The confidence factor represents the analysis team’s faith in current maintenance or inspection practices to contain the failure mode’s risk. The higher the value, the greater the confidence. The confidence factor can adjust the inspection factor or likelihood of failure up or down.
Sequence
The sequence number determines the position of the inspection factor in lists.
Inspection factor
Inspection factor is used to determine the next inspection date based on the asset’s remaining life calculated for the current degradation rate.
Inspection factor is a decimal number from 0 to 1. For example, an inspection factor of “0.5” means that the indicator reading should be collected at half of remaining life calculated for the current degradation rate. An indicator with 10 years remaining life and 0.5 inspection factor means that the next inspection is in 5 years (50% of remaining life). An indicator with 10 years remaining life and 0.8 inspection factor means that the next inspection is in 8 years (80% of remaining life).
Note: The maximum value is 1.00.
Inspection strategy
The inspection strategy describes the action to be taken for this combination of degradation type, criticality, and confidence factor. An example is “Maintain current inspection / monitoring”.
Inspection interval
An inspection interval is the period of time (usually years) between regularly scheduled inspections. Intervals are typically used with failure modes for assets prone to non-age related degradation, where process monitoring is more effective in avoiding degradation.
Note: Specify abbreviated frequencies (for example, “1 yr”) to ensure that inspection intervals will be shown in printed reports.
Supports material-specific strategies
If the inspection strategy differs depending on the asset’s material type, select this option and add material strategies.
4.
To create a material-specific strategy, click New. The Integrity Group Inspection Factor Material or Inspection Interval Material Settings dialog appears. For example:
5.
Define the strategy:
Setting Name
Description
Material classification
If the strategy is based on the material classification, select the classification.
Material type
If the strategy is based on the material type, select the type.
Inspection factor
An inspection factor is required for assets with this material classification or type. Enter the factor in the adjacent box. The maximum value is 1.00.
Inspection strategy
An inspection strategy is required for assets with this material classification or type. Select the strategy in the adjacent list.
Inspection interval
An inspection interval is required for assets with this material classification or type. Select the interval in the adjacent box.
6.
Click OK. The dialog closes and the material strategy is added to the table.
7.
When you have finished defining material-specific strategies, select the Options tab.
8.
For each of the recommended strategy options, select the response that applies to this factor. Options are:
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Allowed
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Not recommended
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Not recommended for primary action plans
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Not recommended for secondary action plans
9.
Select the Formatting tab to choose the font, text color, and background color for the inspection factor.
10.
Click OK. The dialog closes and the inspection factor is added to the table.