Key Issues
Managing Material Condition and Equipment Reliability at U.S. Nuclear Power Plants
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Integrated Approach to Managing Plant Materials
Although the nuclear industry invests substantial resources every year in materials research and management, historically, no single group had looked holistically at the way the industry funds and manages issues programs. That changed in 2003 when the industry developed a comprehensive and proactive materials management program.
An executive task force composed of senior industry executives with broad experience in materials issues, working with materials experts, completed an assessment of current industry programs. The assessment found several major drawbacks to the industry’s traditional approach to handling materials reliability:
The assessment highlighted the importance of funding and organizational commitment to oversee materials issues. The task force concluded that effective organization requires consistent funding at the level required to resolve current issues while maintaining a long-term focus.
Following on the executive task force and working group’s efforts, NEI established an industrywide initiative to integrate the industry’s work on materials reliability issues, ensure efficient allocation of funds and eliminate duplicative efforts. This effort integrated and refocused existing activities by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and reactor owners’ groups.
The industry-wide management structure includes a Materials Executive Oversight Group to provide overall coordination and policy guidance. A separate Materials Technical Advisory Group maintains a strategic plan, established a means to prioritize materials reliability issues, and monitors industry groups engaged in those issues.
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Integrated Approach to Managing Plant Materials
Although the nuclear industry invests substantial resources every year in materials research and management, historically, no single group had looked holistically at the way the industry funds and manages issues programs. That changed in 2003 when the industry developed a comprehensive and proactive materials management program.
An executive task force composed of senior industry executives with broad experience in materials issues, working with materials experts, completed an assessment of current industry programs. The assessment found several major drawbacks to the industry’s traditional approach to handling materials reliability:
- Individual materials programs differed in levels of funding, company participation, scope, assessment processes, executive involvement, personnel resources and other areas.
- The industry did not always implement the guidelines produced by materials programs in a manner consistent with their intent.
- The industry was responding reactively to new materials issues, and there was no overall planning or coordination of industry efforts in the materials area.
The assessment highlighted the importance of funding and organizational commitment to oversee materials issues. The task force concluded that effective organization requires consistent funding at the level required to resolve current issues while maintaining a long-term focus.
Following on the executive task force and working group’s efforts, NEI established an industrywide initiative to integrate the industry’s work on materials reliability issues, ensure efficient allocation of funds and eliminate duplicative efforts. This effort integrated and refocused existing activities by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and reactor owners’ groups.
The industry-wide management structure includes a Materials Executive Oversight Group to provide overall coordination and policy guidance. A separate Materials Technical Advisory Group maintains a strategic plan, established a means to prioritize materials reliability issues, and monitors industry groups engaged in those issues.
Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6
