Managing the design of piping systems

Piping systems are often designed without access to the best knowledge and data and to the relevant plant operating experience. The result is high capital and operating costs, piping and equipment failures, excessive maintenance, and down-time costs and serious safety and environmental incidents. The knowledge and technology exists to develop decision support systems which, combined with changes in the way projects are managed, could dramatically improve the design and operation of pipine systems. Work underway to produce decision support systems for pipine systems is outlined. How these systems relate to the development of concurrent engineering within the fluid process based industries is discussed.