2017 International Foreign Material Exclusion Coordinator Training and Workshop

Please note attendance at this meeting is subject to US Export Control regulations. Registering prior to the meeting will ensure applicable export control regulations are complied with and avoid possible delays or denied access at check in.

Summary

This Training and Workshop are being sponsored jointly by KKL and EPRI. The primary objective of this foreign material exclusion (FME) gathering is to improve FME program performance in the nuclear industry. Debris contributes to a significant percentage of fuel failures. In addition to fuel failures, foreign material has resulted in failures to critical equipment and has reduced overall unit reliability.

The meeting will be conducted in English.

This meeting is limited to 60 attendees, so we recommend registering early. Registration by EPRI members will require an EPRI Login ID from www.epri.com, so allow several days to process the ID if you do not already have one.

Goal/Expected Outcome

Two sessions are included in this gathering. First, EPRI is offering training for Foreign Material Exclusion (FME) Site Coordinators. The training course was developed with support from FME Industry Working Group (IWG) and INPO. Training instructors leading this course are currently active utility FME site coordinators and were instrumental in developing this course material.

FME Site Coordinators are the FME program site champions and oversee all aspects of the FME program. This training is designed to provide newly assigned FME Site Coordinators FME industry best practices and the tools to implement and manage an effective site FME program.

The terminal objectives of the training are to ensure FME Site Coordinators understand:
    – How to obtain and apply industry best practice FME program information
    – The attributes of an effective FME program
    – Common FME events and considerations associated with various types of equipment
    – Typical functions and responsibilities of an FME site coordinator
    – Interdisciplinary interfaces & coordination of the FME Program with other site functions and programs

It is strongly recommended that attendees complete the following prerequisites for this training.
    • Read the following documents:
         – INPO 07-008 “Guidelines for Achieving Excellence in Foreign Material”
         – FME Guidance in INPO 07-004 “Guidelines for Achieving. Excellence in Nuclear Fuel Performance”
         – EPRI Technical Report 3002003060, “Foreign Material Exclusion Processes and Methods”
    • Received site-specific training regarding the following:
         – FME worker responsibilities & FME monitoring practices
    • Become familiar with site-specific corrective action process

The second session of this gathering is the International FME workshop. The Workshop is a forum for the exchange of FME best practices, operating experience, and lessons learned with peer industry personnel responsible for the FME programs at their respective plant(s). EPRI will also provide an overview of EPRI FME products that are currently available to members as well as the status of new products in development.

Workshop topics will include the following:
    • International experience on FME program successes and challenges
    • Implementation of FME programs
    • EPRI Nuclear Maintenance Applications Center FME products
    • Overview of the responsibilities of the FME coordinator
    • Causes and contributors to FME events
    • The use of FME worker dynamic learning activities
    • Keys to FME program success
    • International Atomic Energy Administration update of FME guideline development
    • Trade Fair for Vendors of FME-related products and services

Who Should Attend: The 2-day FME Coordinator Training is designed to provide practical knowledge to individuals who have recently (within the last year) been assigned the responsibility of FME Site Coordinator and for FME program personnel who wish to implement significant improvements to their current FME program.
The workshop is open to FME Coordinators, practitioners, process owners and leaders who wish to exchange information and learn from international peers facing similar challenges, and/or vendors of FME-related tools and services.