Introduction
Over a 45-year history serving the oil & gas, power and desalination, municipal and civil, as well as industrial and marine industries, Gerab National Enterprises has learned that emergencies and accidents do happen, and although planning and mitigation measures go a long way to preventing them, they are an inevitable consequence of working in harsh demanding environments. The best-laid pipe system solutions do suffer from breakdowns, and disruption of service can be very costly to the overall operation. Subsequently, Gerab has adopted a policy of maintaining emergency stocks of key pipe system constituents to be ready to support clients with the requisite materials as and when needed.
Emergency Stocks
Today’s supply chains cover the globe. Pipe network materials can come from anywhere, and may have to travel across multiple logistics hubs. Air transport can be the fastest way to ship items in an emergency, but that could still depend on availability, as well as other factors that may cause subsequent delays. That is why Gerab ensures that emergency stocks are kept in key locations at warehousing and distribution centers close to operations. They cover a comprehensive range of pipe sizes, grades, construction, and materials. This extends to fittings, flanges, gaskets, as well as nuts and bolts. Additional stock materials include pumps, storage tanks, and valves, as well as associated handling equipment. Furthermore, a wide range of chemicals, coatings, and lubricants are kept in emergency stock based on their levels of usage and common applications.
Safety Margins
From the initial design stages, emergency stocks are allocated based on application requirements. Applications in high corrosion, pressure, or temperature environments generally mitigate risks by using higher-grade materials and construction. They remain, nevertheless more susceptible to damage due to high-stress operating conditions. As such, Gerab tends to overstock key components from initial orders to accommodate for any unforeseen, incidental, or exceptional circumstance.
Monitoring
Regular inspections and monitoring are essential in any critical operation, and regular care and preventive maintenance are established protocols within all standards of operation. Strict adherence to these measures is an essential part of the procedure for avoiding emergencies, and the materials used in monitoring and inspection are part of a comprehensive crisis prevention program.
Collaboration
As with any major critical function application, collaboration is essential for safety and for avoiding disruption of operations. Information flow between clients, EPC, safety authorities, or quality controllers is essential to mitigate risks, anticipate potential problems, and prepare for contingencies. It helps to narrow the safety margin requirements in order to optimize costs and efficiencies while safeguarding the overall performance of a pipe system solution.
Technology
Finally, technology is playing an ever-increasing role in hedging against emergencies. AI and machine learning are using data from across the value chain to anticipate and prevent emergencies, as well as offer guidelines for emergency stocks to keep in different materials, construction, pressure, and temperature ratings, as well as any other supporting materials that may be needed. Maintaining state-of-the-art software for efficient logistics, optimized operations, performance assessment, and risk evaluation is a pivotal point in any emergency preparedness protocol.
Conclusion
No one can predict the future and despite the best preparations, unexpected things will happen in projects. However, with careful preparation and forward planning, issues can be minimized and mitigated. Using the strategies outlined above, provide the best possible protection against unforeseen circumstances.
To speak to a Gerab expert about how we can help protect your project, contact us today.