Uncovering Hidden Risks: Why Control System Audits are Essential for Operational Reliability
After a control system is designed, built, programmed, commissioned, and started up, it is not uncommon for it to be overlooked. This is probably not the case for the control systems that run your main processes, but it can certainly be true for auxiliary systems that have been working reliably and seldom require any maintenance. Before you know it, that system may be 10, 20, or more years old. Should that system fail, sourcing parts may become a challenge. Without spare parts available, the resulting downtime may be much longer (and more costly) than expected.