MC-97-92 BETTER PiANT DESIGN TO OPTIMIZE PLANT MAINTENANCE

Description:

Throughout the design phase of any process unit, it is vital that all key entities participate in providing input to the engineering contractor for the purpose of generating the optimum plant configuration. The primary categories which need to be addressed are operations, maintenance, safety, constructability and economics. These five issues must be considered when setting the location of each piece of equipment, designing every process structure, routing every piping system and locating every valve and instrument. When viewed in the light of fast track schedules and budget constraints, the success of optimizing any plant layout relies on the timely receipt of input from both the owner and contractor experts There is often the notion expressed from a contractor point of view that if a process facility is erected with a low rework incident rate, it be considered a successful project. While this may be an ingredient of “Lowest Total Installed Cost”, it likewise may ignore the “Total Life Cycle Cost” factor.