Improving maintenance procedures-one utility´s perspective

The authors address one utility´s past and current efforts to improve maintenance procedures in nuclear power stations. This effort has resulted in decreased performance error along with a corresponding increase in unit reliability. Several hundred procedures have been upgraded, obtaining favorable comments from users of those procedures and from a variety of program-independent auditors. Resolution of items identified in performing the upgrade has resulted in the identification of needed training, including equipment training, system training, administrative training, and procedure training. The carrying out of procedure validations has resulted in a number of modifications to plant and equipment reducing the risk of performance errors.<>