Phase 1 - Neglect:
Corrosion control is ignored; this may be "tempting" to (poor) management as
corrosion problems may not show up immediately. It is easy to be lulled into a false sense
of security.
Phase 2 - Panic: The previously hidden corrosion danger
becomes apparent, possibly with disastrous financial consequences and safety hazards. It
is not easy to combat corrosion rationally and effectively in a state of panic.
(Editor's note: the term "Brownian motion" has been
overheard in conversation, as applied to the initial panicky behavior in response to a
technical problem).
Phase 3 - Learning Curve: In dealing with the serious
corrosion problems, effective corrosion control measures are eventually introduced and
failure rates are reduced to manageable levels. Considerable effort (and time) may be
required before effective solutions are found, qualified and implemented.
Phase 4 - Unlearning Curve: Once the initial crisis is
over, there is a risk that corrosion control will be neglected again and that hard lessons
learnt in the past will be forgotten. This is when the corrosion cycle starts all over
again, with the neglect stage re-establishing itself.
Numerous senior industry managers are lamenting the fact that the same
corrosion problems are appearing over and over again. |
