The Asset Journal

The Asset Journal, Volume 18, Issue 4

The general topic for this edition discusses Configuration Management. In many discussions with clients, it turns out that Configuration Management is not at the forefront of their priorities when discussing Asset Management. Most often it is stated that drawings are updated and other key documents that may have to do with Business Management and in general As Built information is kept after Commissioning and handover. Also Change Management may be a cause for ‘as building’.

If we are looking at the Asset Management Plans that may exist, we can find reference to the various Equipment classes that make up an Asset. The current status and planned changes that may occur as part of Performance or Asset Health improvements are often a foundation for budgets or longer-term capital requirements forecasts. That is just one reason that we must know what equipment actually is installed, and of course the most important aspect is maintaining Safety and controlling Risk. Without knowing across all Business Units what the actual equipment installed is, and what the must be done to either maintain, operate or otherwise manage it, is wasteful and potentially results in a high risk situation.

I recently asked one of my clients how they ensure that they can demonstrate resilience and sustainability, key objectives in their Asset Management System. They explained to me how important Configuration Management became for them, once the process and related activities were understood. It quickly became clear to me that the Organisation had investigated the processes associated with Configuration Management, but had used the outcomes of Status accounting and Configuration Audits to plan improvements to their equipment base with a view to, on the one hand, explore different options for equipment replacement and on the other hand to reduce their material resources’ footprint.

I think this is just one example how Configuration Management can integrate with Asset Management. There are of course many additional considerations for instance, how to utilise the advanced analytics that digitisation offers. Often the desire to understand Asset (or Equipment) Health stops at looking at maintenance or integrity activities.  But the wider understanding of how equipment performs and what might be done to improve on performance or improve through better technology can be supported through Configuration Management.

Would the opportunities offered through Configuration Management be worth considering in your Organisation and become an integral process within your Asset Management Framework?

From all of us at the Asset Management Council, we wish you a happy and safe Christmas period and we look forward as always to receive your feedback and look forward reconnecting with you in the New Year.

theasset@amcouncil.com.au