Ageing & Obsolescence
The Problem
With thousands of obsolete items and many more items under threat, obsolescence is a significant and growing issue that faces the UK nuclear industry. Critical Components and Single Point Vulnerabilities may be given attention but any obsolete item; whether a component or a system, can cause significant problems when spares become unavailable.
The AMS Approach
AMS recognises the relationship between the possible solutions available and the associated cost implications. AMS has the knowledge and experience to, not only engineer total system or sub-system replacements, but also to carry out Item Equivalency Evaluations (IEE) and Fit Form & Function comparisons which enable the lower cost solutions to be considered first.
Working with Appropriate Rigour (WAR); AMS applies the principles of BS EN 62402:2007 Obsolescence Management to its own solutions and where appropriate can apply client specific guidelines to the design process conducting and incorporating OPEX analysis for safety critical system design.
AMS Obsolescence Capabilities
AMS’s obsolescence specific capabilities include the following:
- Internal SQEP C&I engineering resource
- Properly managed supply chain of supplementary design and manufacturing services
- Component, Sub-System and System design capabilities
- Reverse Engineering of PCBs
- TTL/CMOS/Analogue expertise
- Plant knowledge / systems knowledge
- Item Equivalency Evaluation (IEE) Authors
Related
Documentation
13331
EC&I Obsolescence Solutions Brochure
Related
Case Studies
PCB Reverse Engineering
When an old piece of instrumentation became obsolete, AMS reverse engineered the PCB enabling the client to avoid the costly exercise of qualifying a new piece of equipment for the application.
Sludge Tank Level Monitoring
AMS was contacted by a client to utilise our instrumentation expertise to propose a solution to an obsolescence issue surrounding the level measurement of radioactive effluent in a nuclear power station’s effluent storage tanks.