Asset/mechanical integrity: A PSM element that still bedevils

Since the original version of this paper was published at the CCPS conference in 2006, the quality and health of asset integrity/mechanical integrity (AI/MI) programs in the process safety community have improved. However, it continues to be a difficult element to develop and implement. In many respects, it is still the "last frontier" of process safety and has been the last element to be fully addressed in the PSM community. This is not to say that inspection, testing, and preventive maintenance and other related activities that are part of AI/MI programs do not exist at facilities with process safety programs. Preventive and predictive maintenance programs have existed in the chemical/process industry for many years. What has been lacking in some cases are complete integrated AI/MI management system programs that address all of the subelements of AI/MI. There are several reasons for this continuing situation: Understanding the requirements. Which RAGAGEPs are relevant? Common difficulties with mechanical integrity. The impacts of process safety culture.