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Section - 3A: Checking, Quality Assuran
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Control of Piping Drawings

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$ Written by Jop

Checking or the Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) in process p

a grossly misunderstood activity that is performed (or should be performed
process plant project deliverable. Problems arise when checking is not don
incorrectly. When it is done incorrectly not only the end result (the docume
Content Menu created the document suffers and the checker who does the checking also

% Blog

% Piping News

The document (the drawing or other deliverable) suffers because the "Chec
Tips, Tools & Training some cases the checker "thinks" he or she is a better designer than the des
and redraw the configuration in "red" and send it to the correction group. T
% 1 - Glossary,
 Terms & Definitions in fact has never been checked. In other cases even after a normal check, m

% 2 - Management
cause another round of costs due to the re-checking, correcting (revision), a

& Supervision
cost of reissue handling in the field.

The document creator (the designer) suffers because he or she gets blamed
% 3 - Quality
finds on a document. The designer's reputation suffers and they get the fee
Control
them. The truth is that most (if not all) of the "red" marks on a check print a

% 4 - Auxiliary They are more often traced to late changes to P&ID, vendor drawings or da

Activities
The document checker suffers because he or she gets a bad reputation and
% 5 - Valves them.
They do not learn to do it right so they keep making the same mistakes.
% 6 - Pipe &
As a checker you may ask the obvious question, how do you do it right? Tha
Fittings
find a "red" mark (indicating a mistake) you should dig deep and find out w
% 7 - Plant Layout and why?
% 8 - Equipment That is the real purpose of checking.
Piping
"Why doesn't it work like this?" and the second: "Why is there so much ani
% 9 - Pipe the checkers?"
Supports These are both very good and very valid questions. The answer to both que
% 10 - Pipe Stress The answer is the lack of training. There is not now nor has there ever been
how to do checking.
% 11 - Piping
Before you did your first checking did anyone give you receive any training
Layout
to check or what to check?
% 12 - Field Issues
What kind of (checking) training should be given? Who should be given this
% 13 - Pipe Fab
The training given should include everyone in the piping design departmen
Shop Issues
what checking really is and what is the real target of the checking process.
% 14 - 3D Models Checking is really the last stage in the process normally called QA/QC. QA
Quality Control. QA or Quality Assurance is the things that are done ahead
% 15 - Drawings
that things will be done a certain way.
% 16 -
This includes filing systems, procedures, and specifications governing the w
Dimensional Data
the proper follow through during the work to remain in compliance with th
% Codes / Example, you set up a filing system for vendor data and the first drawings t
Standards places. But later when revisions came in they got "lost" and were not place

% Links QC or Quality Control (Checking) is the verification of the product of all the
% Piping Books processes.

% Videos Our business is the process plant engineering and design business. In the p
% Tag List Search profession the deliverables are drawings.
For the piping design department the deliverables include piping plan draw
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The piping plan drawing (or the 3D model) is important but it is just a mean
% Fun Stuff
The isometric is the end product and must contain all the information nece
material, fabricate the piping configuration, and install the line or system co
The training for Piping Checking (QA/QC) should cover both the Purpose a

The Purpose
The purpose of checking as it applies to piping drawings in a Process Plant
specifications, drawings and other deliverables reflect the correct combina
the end product. These include but are not limited to:

Safety
Function
Operability
Maintainability
Constructability
Mechanical integrity
Mathematical Accuracy

Piping Design and the deliverables of the piping design effort is an importa
and the checking of the piping drawings cannot be diminished in its import
With the above in mind:

"Rule #1" all products and deliverables from the piping design group sha
"Rule #2" checkers check the design, they do not do the design
"Rule #3" all corrections shall be done by the original designer of the do

The Process
The Piping Design Supervisor for a project assigns the responsibilities for ch
These "checkers" are held responsible for checking all (or a specific assigne
checkers should be well trained and well experienced individuals who can b
have a firmness of conviction.
 The process of checking includes:

1. Defining what is a "checkable" product

2. Freezing all work on the area that is in check
3. Becoming familiar with the assigned area
4. Defining what constitutes the source material for the assigned area.
5. Obtaining a copy of the current revision of each of all source material
6. Using a set (or standard) checking procedure
7. Diplomacy between the designer who made the drawings and the chec
8. Fairness when determining right from wrong
9. Proper correction of the drawing(s) based on the checker's direction
10. Proper backing and support of the Piping Design Supervisor

You may question "What does all this mean?" Let's take each of the items f
detail.

"Defining what is a checkable product?"

This means that you should not spend hours/money checking work that is
responsibility of the piping design supervisor. If a drawing is not finished, no
be placed in the checking group. A checkable product in piping would or sh
(or CADD models) and all isometrics that are complete. They have been th
changes and comments incorporated. All activities involving other groups s
checks have been completed and comments incorporated. A checkable pip
that, in the absence of checking should be thought of as ready to go out th
door then it is not ready to be checked. A checkable product is also a comp
all source material.

"Freezing all work on the area that is in check"

This again this is the responsibility of the piping design supervisor. When al
the checking group for check then all work on that portion should stop. It m
be changing what the checker thinks he or she is checking. Too often a chec
something on an in-check drawing and they go and seek a clarification from
that "Oh, its not like that anymore." This shows that the product was not re
communication between the supervisor and the checker or that there is a l
the checker and the checking effort.

"Becoming familiar with the assigned area"

This is a joint responsibility of the piping supervisor and the checker. The ch
is totally new to the area being checked. This would be someone who has n
area drawings. They may even be someone new to the company or the pro
the history of the area. The piping supervisor should provide (and the check
the area including the basics of the process, the operation, key maintenanc
issues.

"Defining what constitutes the source material for the assigned ar

This again is a joint responsibility between the supervisor and the checker.
checking of the product (the drawing) should be the same material that wa
to create the product (the drawing). Yes! There are times when a later revisi
structural drawing or an equipment outline) with changes will be received a
changes need to be reviewed by the piping design supervisor and a determ
change requires pulling the drawings out of the checking group/process fo
do not do the design. If the checker does the design then who checks the c

"Obtaining a copy of the current revision of each of all source ma

Having a copy of all the source material is one thing. Having the latest copy
an all together different matter. The checker needs to check with each disc
documents to determine what the latest revision is. The checker needs to c
vendor data to determine the current revision of drawings for each applica
done and correct and up-to-date copies are in hand the checker should rev
against the revision used to prepare the "in check" drawings. If it is found th
supervisor should be notified and a decision as to the suitability for check s

"Using a set (or standard) checking procedure"

Using a standard checking procedure can be a company issue. Some may h
checking while others will have little or nothing. With or without the guideli
should follow a well structured and methodical procedure when checking p
as noted previously normally include piping plans and isometrics. The isom
deliverable of any piping effort. The checker should have a check list of nor
isometric and any project specific items that exist.

"Diplomacy between the designer who made the drawings and th

This is a two way street. Both individuals should be motivated by the same
information, the quality of the product (isometric), the reputation of the co
With the proper attitude about the common goals there needs to be open
between the checker and the designer whose work is in check. It would not
the designer when seeking insight into why something was done a certain
designer to rebuff the checker or be flippant with answers to the checkers i

"Fairness when determining right from wrong"

This is the checkers responsibility. The checker is a checker for now on this
in a different position and making enemies by arbitrary decisions would no
run. When an apparent error is found the checker should try to find out wh
made the "error." What information did the designer use to create the docu
checker use to check the document. There may have been a revision to the
time the designer did the original work and the time of the check. Decision
made solely on the basis of the source documents and issues such as safet
maintainability and constructability. When done with the checking the che
print and forward it for correction.

"Proper correction of the drawing(s) based on the checker's direct

The proper correction of the drawings includes who does the correction an
first choice of who does the correction is the person who made the drawin
possible but where possible the originating designer gains insight as to mis
thus doing the corrections becomes a learning experience. When the origin
affords a chance to catch items that the checker was not aware of that wer
design. "How" the corrections are done is of even more importance. The co
completely and exactly as marked by the checker. When the corrector has
by the checker then the corrector should discuss it with the checker. This co
the proper attitude on the part of both parties. When done making the cor
corrections should sign and date the check print properly.

"Proper backing and support of the Piping Design Supervisor"

The Design Supervisor needs to remember he (or she) is responsible for all
the design is bad then it is the Supervisor's fault not the designer's. The Pip
supervisor of all of the piping design not just the good stuff. Proper design
Supervisor makes frequent and detailed reviews of what each designer is d
Design Supervisor is also responsible for all instructions, data flow and com
related to the design work. Proper backing does not mean always taking th
backing the checker when the checker is right. When there is an issue that s
between a checker and originating designer, a corrector or anyone else, the
to get involved. He or she needs to determine the facts, review the suppor
 closely to both sides and make a decision consistent with the goals of the p

If all of this is done, and done consistently everyone involved will benefit. T
will be the company. They will have a better trained, better functioning des
to get repeat business from satisfied clients.

About the Author

(/profile/my-
profile/userprofile/jop)
James O. Pennock has more than forty-five
profession. He has been involved in both ho
on refinery, chemical, petrochemical, power
ranges from entry level designer to engineer
Fluor. He is also the author of the book "Pipi
Process Plant Projects." He is now retired, liv
occasional consulting work.

Mr. Pennock can be contacted via E-Mail at j

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