Streamlining Inspection Management with VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite

In the industrial sector, managing inspection records and planning future inspections are crucial tasks for ensuring asset integrity and operational continuity. VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite (MI) offers a comprehensive solution for these tasks. This article explores how to create and update inspection plans using the suite, demonstrating its capabilities and benefits.

Introduction to Inspection Work Planning with the Mechanical Integrity Suite

The Mechanical Integrity Suite by VisualAIM is designed to simplify and enhance the management of inspection data. It provides a centralized platform for creating, updating, and tracking inspection plans, ensuring that all necessary inspections are scheduled and completed on time and that observations/non-conformances are properly managed and remediated.

Creating and Updating Inspection Plans

Accessing the Inspection Work Plan
- To begin, navigate to the inspection work plan for the asset in question. For instance, select asset V10001 from the inventory. This step assumes that you have already created the initial record in the previous inspections section.
Creating a New Inspection Work Plan
- Click the plus (+) icon at the top of the inspection schedule table to create a new inspection work plan. This will generate a new entry in the table with predefined inspection strategies. For a pressure vessel, these might include a visual external inspection every five years and a UT (Ultrasonic Testing) thickness inspection every ten years.
Options for Inspection Strategies
- At this point, you have three options:
  - Stick with Predefined Strategies: Use the preset methods already in the database for the asset type.
  - Reuse Previous Methods: Bring forward inspection methods or tasks from previous inspections for the specific asset.
  - Add New Methods: Include any additional inspection tasks required based on the latest findings.
Reusing Previous Inspection Methods
- To demonstrate, view the methods used in a previous inspection plan (e.g., from January 2023). This might include visual external inspection, UT thickness, and liquid penetrant testing. When creating a new inspection work plan, you can click the fourth icon to bring these methods forward. Adjust the last inspection date and intervals accordingly (e.g., visual every five years, UT every ten years, and liquid penetrant every five years).
Adding New Inspection Tasks
- If new inspection tasks are required, click the add option at the top of the table. Define the new method, such as a drone inspection, and fill in the relevant properties (e.g., corrosion inspection type, in-service status). Save the new task and specify when it will be conducted (e.g., during the next visual and liquid penetrant inspections in August 2028).
Saving the Inspection Work Plan
- After defining the inspection methods and tasks, save the new inspection work plan. The new record will appear in the inspection schedule table, ensuring all planned inspections are clearly documented and scheduled.

Benefits of Using VisualAIM’s MI Suite

Centralized Data Management: All inspection data is stored in one place, making it easy to access and manage.
Flexible Planning: Users can easily create, update, and customize inspection plans based on asset-specific needs and inspection findings.
Efficiency and Compliance: Automated scheduling and record-keeping help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal maintenance standards.
Better Inspection Planning: The ability to reuse previous inspection methods and add new tasks based on current findings improves the thoroughness and accuracy of inspections.

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VisualAIM’s Mechanical Integrity Suite is a powerful tool for managing inspection data and planning future inspections. By providing a centralized, flexible platform, The MI Suite enhances efficiency, compliance, and asset integrity. With features that allow for detailed customization and easy updating of inspection plans, the MI Suite ensures that inspectors and managers have the necessary information to implement and execute the site inspection strategy. Still have questions? Click here to contact our team.

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