European Vessel Design Management: Design, Procurement, and Supply Chain Tools

Abstract American pressure system design has a fully different approach from European systems. Various European standards apply controls not often seen in the American market. These tools help those joining the market, and for strengthening supply chain communication mechanisms applied to avoid problems. The intentional use of process controls, insisting on Inspection and Testing Plans (ITPs) for multiple levels of the supply chain can be key to ensuring quality (e.g. Follow Up Documents or ‘FUD’s in RCC-M). The use of contractual witness and hold points built into vendor interpreted design critical processes can help ensure success, as often processes are followed differently when the customer is present. This is achieved by labelling processes using a prioritization scheme developed for the project, such as pressure risk for the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). Prioritizing processes to a vendor can also give that company a window into one’s design intent. The European Union has multiple jurisdictions with different material grade interpretations for the same base specification. Extended material high temperature testing may be expected by two customer parties, but agreeing on which temperature is expected for the contract needs to be established up front. The most successful approach for handling this is systematically getting all parties together to talk to key process points providing strong communication lines for a project. Once developed, a key element in documentation maintenance from French RCC-E requirements details reporting and record keeping of design change documentation and justification. This includes critical process specifications and documents to be setup for change notification and grading the severity of the change with the consideration for interchangeability of spare parts. These new tools in the European market bring much more depth and accuracy to design communication. A culture-based approach to quality is often contractualized. Trapping problems in production at all levels in the form of ‘Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Suspect Item’ (CFSI) contract terms. PESTEL tools are used for evaluating relevance of a project risk, watching for Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Environmental, or Legal disruption to projects. On the customer side, the UK Nuclear industry is applying an approach to contracts called ‘Intelligent Customer’, where they try to advise their vendors on how to undertake each safety related process used in their contract, even if they must hire a consultant to do so. These cultural improvements to quality systems can build in error trapping into the entire workforce and build a stronger system of reporting to give greater project visibility to customers. Literacy of the tools used around the world can ensure healthy efficiency in communication. Lessons learned from a new market are more relevant than ever, with a modern diverse supply chain.