Working closely together and implementing improvements based on past lessons learned, Crane Nuclear and the USA plants carried out very successful valve work during the Spring 2019 Outage Season. Columbia, Comanche Peak, and Cook all had Spring Outages using the USA Agreement with Crane Nuclear for valve services. Each plant was able to save thousands of dollars by taking advantage of no-rental-fee AOV/MOV diagnostic systems available via the agreement. For Columbia, Crane conducted a pre-outage Kaizen Event (a focused week-long process improvement deep dive) that yielded several significant efficiencies with scheduling, post-maintenance testing, and valve work procedures. At Cook, continued process improvements included coordinated line-by-line schedule reviews between Lead Schedulers and Crane Supervisors, excellent engagement by all Crane workers in identifying safety issues and sharing low-level learnings, and exceptional parts control/returns as work packages were closed. Based on performance issues with MOV Testing at Comanche Peak in Fall 2018, Crane conducted a detailed root cause evaluation prior to the Spring 2019 Comanche Peak Outage. This resulted in the development and execution of a detailed pre-outage Action Plan with customized, site-specific training for MOV Testing and equipment set-up/calibration, as well as enhancements to the test data sheets, procedures, and strain gauge connecting leads. Another successful action was the use of just-in-time training for ITT Grinnell Diaphragm Valves based on a large scope of this valve style at Comanche Peak.
In particular for Comanche Peak, the various improvements implemented between Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 were on a tight schedule. Tim Scoggins (USA Valve Team Program Manager) stated, “Crane did a good job implementing a variety of corrective actions since Fall 2018 and it is important for them to realize that we all appreciate their successful efforts.” Regarding Crane’s performance in Spring 2019, Tommy Winslow (Comanche Peak Valve Team Supervisor) summarized it as “Overall, really satisfied…with really good execution. Had some paperwork issues at the very beginning and that was turned around quickly.” In response to Crane’s improvements with MOV Testing, Victor De La Fuente (Comanche Peak MOV Engineer) offered the following, “MOV Testing went very well. Crane provided capable personnel with some good experience. I don’t know of any issues at the moment. I like the attention to detail and questioning attitude the guys had.” And finally, from Jolinda Reid (Comanche Peak MOV Engineer), “The knowledge we had with Crane Supervisors was amazing and definitely exceeded expectations.”
Based on an overall high level of satisfaction with Crane’s performance during the existing five-year contract period, the plants using the USA Valve Services Agreement with Crane Nuclear have agreed to exercise the two-year extension. Along the inclusion of a few contract clarifications and mutually beneficial enhancements, the effective date of this agreement is now extended through 12/31/2021.
