Extent of Use of Continuous Improvement Process in Engineering Asset Management Practices in Oil and Gas Service Industry in Nigeria

Abstract

A systematic approach to realising the extent of problems associated with assets and providing mechanisms for improvement is offered by asset management. Continuous improvement process is an approach to improving organisational performance with small incremental steps, over time. The concept of continuous improvement has been adopted in advanced nations. In the Nigerian oil industry, there are limited information on application and utilisation of continuous improvement process as a tool in engineering asset management. The study examined the extent of the use of continuous improvement process in engineering assets management in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. It covered 60 oil and gas companies in Nigeria where data were collected through questionnaire and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Continuous improvement process was recently embraced and majority of its initiatives had come from within the people in engineering and maintenance department though other sections within organisation also embraced the approach. The concept has also been used in some stages of facility lifecycle like operation and maintenance, productions or construction of engineering assets.