NACE International Institute (Houston, Texas, USA) announced the release of its IMPACT PLUS corrosion management product—the world’s first platform to benchmark practices and improve corrosion management.
This unique platform is designed to advance corrosion management performance across all industry sectors, from pipelines and bridges to maritime and defense systems, and more. Built as a tool for management professionals, the program balances technical and business solutions by utilizing process classification frameworks, maturity models, and benchmarking expertise.
The group says IMPACT PLUS is the next step in improving safety and reducing the exorbitant cost of corrosion, which was outlined in the 2016 IMPACT study. The IMPACT study illuminated the necessity of maintaining a corrosion management plan and received broad support worldwide.
“Soon after we released the IMPACT study, we began to hear from respondents and focus group participants that they needed tools to put the report’s findings into practice,” says Elaine Bowman, a former NACE president and IMPACT PLUS project manager. “They couldn’t find any products to facilitate improved practices, and asked us to develop a process that would help their companies manage, monitor, and improve their corrosion management activities.”
Working with the American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) (Houston, Texas, USA)—the world’s foremost authority in benchmarking, best practices, process and performance improvement, and knowledge management—NACE developed IMPACT PLUS as an online network of tools. These tools include a customized corrosion management process classification framework, corrosion management maturity model, and an extensive reference library.
“We built a team of proven industry experts to design the IMPACT PLUS portal and its associated product suite,” says Chris M. Fowler, president of the NACE International Institute. “From the start, we knew we were pioneering something that will have lasting effects on corrosion management worldwide, so we created a program that is capable of continuous advancement and customization.”
IMPACT PLUS users have the option to manage their own use of the product or use a trained navigator with corrosion management and consulting expertise. Navigators will help customers evaluate and compare their current asset management strategies and advise them on future asset protection and corrosion management strategies.
Features of the IMPACT PLUS portal include:
· An integrated platform for corrosion management professionals seeking to move their company to higher levels of performance;
· A common language and structure needed to ensure communication throughout all levels of an organization;
· A straightforward way for companies to identify gaps in processes that could lead to the reduced lifecycle of assets due to mechanical, integrity, or human error;
· A Corrosion Management Maturity Model which creates a roadmap of activities, investments and best practices that lead to higher performance; and
· A reference library to manage knowledge and information collected through all components of the portal.
Source: IMPACT PLUS, www.nace-impact.org.