Asset Integrity Management (AIM) is the systematic, lifecycle-based framework through which an organization ensures that its physical assets are designed, operated, inspected, maintained, and modified in a manner that allows them to perform their required function safely, reliably, and in compliance with applicable regulations and standards, throughout their intended operating life.

AIM integrates engineering, inspection, monitoring, risk management, and operational controls to prevent loss of containment, structural failure, and functional degradation, while enabling risk-based decision-making, life extension, and continuous improvement.

Asset Integrity Framework by Swiss Approval 

1.1 Asset Criticality Analysis (ACA)

Systematic ranking of equipment based on:

• Consequence of failure (HSE, production, financial impact)
• Operating conditions (pressure, temperature, cyclic loads)
• Degradation susceptibility
• Failure and inspection history

1.2 Risk-Based Inspection (RBI)

Aligned with API 580 / API 581:

• Identification of credible damage mechanisms
• Risk ranking (probability × consequence)
• Optimization of inspection methods, coverage, and intervals
  

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2. Damage Mechanism & Material Degradation Assessments

2.1 Corrosion & Material Loss

• General corrosion
• Localized corrosion (pitting, crevice)
• CUI (corrosion under insulation)
• Erosion-corrosion
• MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion)

Advanced NDT methods, mostly related to the Corrosion & Material Loss:

• PAUT corrosion mapping
• Automated UT thickness mapping
• Long Range UT (LRUT)
• Guided wave inspection
• Digital radiography (RT-D)

2.2 Cracking & Fatigue Mechanisms

• Mechanical and thermal fatigue
• Stress corrosion cracking (SCC)
• Hydrogen-related damage (HIC, SOHIC)
• Vibration-induced cracking

Advanced NDT methods, mostly related to the Cracking & Fatigue Mechanisms :

• Phased Array UT (PAUT, TFM)
• TOFD
• ACFM
• Eddy current (conventional and array)
• Acoustic Emission (AE) for in-service monitoring

2.3 High-Temperature Damage & Creep

• Creep damage accumulation
• Overheating
• Microstructural degradation (e.g. graphitization)

Advanced NDT methods, mostly related to the High-Temperature Damages :

• In-situ metallographic replication
• Advanced hardness mapping
• UT velocity and attenuation methods

2.4 Pressure, Deformation & Mechanical Damage

• Plastic deformation
• Bulging and ovality

Advanced NDT methods, mostly related to Mechanical Damages :

• 3D laser scanning
• Geometric profiling
  

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3. Structural Integrity Assessment

• Weld integrity evaluation (including in-service where applicable)
• Nozzle and attachment assessments
• Supports and load-bearing elements
• Piping stress and flexibility-related damage indicators

Advanced NDT methods, mostly related to the Structural Integrity : 

• Advanced NDT results
• Design data and operating conditions
• Engineering judgment
  

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4. Fitness-For-Service (FFS) & Remaining Life Assessment

A key differentiator for a high-end integrity service:

4.1 Fitness-For-Service (API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1)

• Level 1, 2, and 3 assessments
• Evaluation of:
  • Wall loss
  • Cracks
  • Creep damage
  • Local thin areas

4.2 Remaining Life & Re-Inspection Interval Calculation

• Corrosion rate evaluation
• Crack growth modeling
• Creep life consumption analysis

This is where our advanced NDT data, are converted into operational decisions.

5. In-Service & Online Monitoring (Optional / Value-Added)

For critical or high-risk assets:

• Acoustic Emission monitoring
• Corrosion monitoring systems
• Trending and degradation modeling
• Condition-based inspection strategies
• Input to digital twin concepts (where applicable)
  

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6. Data Integration & Integrity Reporting

Our professional Asset Integrity service, includes:

• Asset-based integrity dossiers
• Consolidated inspection histories
• Risk ranking and mitigation recommendations
• Clear decisions:
  • Fit for continued operation
  • Fit with mitigation
  • Repair / replace / derate
    

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7. Regulatory & Standards Alignment

Support and compliance with:

• PED / Pressure Equipment Directive
• API, ASME, ISO standards
• National regulatory requirements
• Operator internal integrity management systems
  

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8. Commercial Structuring of the Service

The service can be packaged as:

• Baseline Asset Integrity Assessment
• Periodic Integrity Review
• Critical Asset Integrity Program
• In-Service Integrity & Shutdown Support

Swiss Approval is delivering an engineering-led Asset Integrity Management service, driven by high-quality advanced NDT data, enabling safe operation, risk reduction, and life extension of critical assets.

PREDICTIVE – PREVENTIVE SERVICES, within Swiss Approval AIM framework

In a mature Asset Integrity Management (AIM) framework, we meet several predictive / preventive services whose purpose is to identify degradation drivers early, before measurable material damage occurs.

Below is a structured overview of the key services, clearly positioned in terms of what they prevent, how they are used, and how they interface with AIM & advanced NDT.

Swiss Approval is using tools, for: Integrity risk Early-Warning and Prevention, feeding high-quality data into advanced NDT, RBI, and Fitness-For-Service evaluations.