Conduct better maintenance and operability studies

The introduction of the HAZOP (hazard and operability analysis) technique offered a systematic, but extremely time-consuming, methodology for evaluating the hazards of a proposed facility, as well as the operability concerns for a plant. This article discusses another methodology which can discover potential operational and maintenance problems with a proposed plant design. We recommanded that the MOp (maintenance and operability) be carried out during front-end loading. Front-end loading is that portion of a project when the conceptual engineering and definition of an engineering package are performed. This includes the development of the process flow diagrams, heat and material balances, piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs), plant and equipment layouts, and equipment specifications.