We have a deep dive into materials engineering and corrosion this time around! In part 1 of our interview, we welcome Bill Valerioti, a semi-retired petrochemicals and chemical industry SME. From his early days in chemical engineering to finding his passion for materials engineering and corrosion – Bill shares insight into his passion for materials failure analysis, mechanical integrity, and chemical plant operations. Bill also emphasizes the importance of effective communication, mento...

We’re excited to welcome Clay White to the podcast! In this episode, Clay shares personal experiences and incidents that fueled his dedication to improving industry safety standards. He reflects on historical events, including the polypropylene reactor leak, and how these shaped his approach to safety. The conversation explores challenges in data management, the critical role of Damage Mechanism Reviews (DMRs), and limitations of inspection technologies. Clay also highlights common industry h...

Welcome to the world of mechanical integrity! In part 1 of our interview, we welcome Clay White to the podcast. Take a listen as Clay takes us through his career journey, from earning a welding and metallurgy degree to becoming a recognized expert in mechanical integrity, corrosion, and materials engineering – including his contributions to API 581. Our discussion explores the evolution of Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) models, flaws in the Generic Failure Frequencies (GFF), the critical r...

In Episode 13, we are pleased to welcome industry veteran Bobby Wright to the podcast! From his beginnings working summers on an assembly line in Arkansas to becoming a business strategist and mentor, Bobby shares the valuable lessons learned and experiences that shaped his path. He discusses pivotal moments, including his roles at refineries and handling emergencies, like tornadoes. Key highlights include Bobby's involvement with coker units, advanced inspection methods, and the signif...

Part 2 of our interview with Lynne Kaley is now live. In episode 12, ‘We’re Over-Inspecting’, we welcome risk-based inspection (RBI) expert, Lynne Kaley back to the show. Listen now and hear more about our small yet incredibly interconnected world of mechanical integrity professionals. Branden, Greg, and Lynne discuss the significant shift in the mechanical integrity industry over the years and how it has evolved from merely preventing failures to managing risk and reducing waste. Durin...

In episode 11, 'Startups & New Developments’, we welcome risk-based inspection (RBI) expert, Lynne Kaley to the show. Listen now and hear more about our small yet incredibly interconnected world of mechanical integrity professionals. In part 1 of this two-part series, Lynne discusses her journey in the industry, starting from her early days at Amaco Oil and DNV to her contributions on the API 581 committee. This conversation highlights the various challenges and opportunities she faced th...

The next episode with a new guest is coming on Thursday, August 21. Here's a quick sneak peek of our conversation where you will get a taste of our lively discussion, the shared camaraderie, and potentially learn something too. Thank you for listening to Upon Further Inspection! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. We’d love to hear from you—connect with us on LinkedIn and share your thoughts on the episode. Have ideas for futur...

In episode 10, ‘Brilliant Whiz Kid,' Branden and Greg continue their conversation with industry legend John Reynolds. Join us as we look to the future of mechanical integrity and the integration of artificial intelligence. In the final part of this three-part series, listen to an in-depth discussion that starts with the application of artificial intelligence in fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) and ends with insights into the value of networking and building competency improve...

In episode nine, RBI Was the Way of the Future,' Branden and Greg continue their conversation with industry legend John Reynolds. Join us and hear about the evolution of mechanical integrity practices through John’s shared experiences and expertise. In part two of this three-part series, the discussion traces the history of risk-based inspection (RBI), detailing its evolution from the nuclear power sector to its codification in API 580 and API 581 standards. Discussing the early days of...

In episode eight, 'The Mountains We Still Need to Climb,' we welcome industry legend John Reynolds to the podcast. Join us and hear about the evolution of mechanical integrity practices through John’s shared experiences and expertise. In part 1 of this three-part series, John shares how he became a renowned expert in Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity (FEMI). Starting his career with Shell in 1968, John recounts pivotal moments including his contributions to the Inspectioneering Journ...

Upon Further Inspection is pleased to welcome back Andri Orphanides, API’s Director of ICP. We had such a great conversation going with Andri that we extended our chat and split her interview into two parts. Here’s part 2: Part two of our conversation with Andri is centered around the need for developing programs and educational pathways to attract younger generations, particularly Gen Z, to the industry. She highlights the concerning trend of Gen Z's (and Gen Alpha’s) lack of interest in mec...

Upon Further Inspection is pleased to welcome our first podcast guest, Andri Orphanides, API’s Director of ICP. We had such a great conversation with Andri that we split her interview into two parts. In Episode 6, Greg, Branden, and Andri discuss her 14-year journey with API from an exam coordinator to a director. Andri shares insights into the evolution of the ICP certification programs, the career pathways they offer, and the importance of international standards. She highlights the g...

In this episode of Upon Further Inspection, hosts Branden Stucky and Greg Alvarado discuss the evolution of mechanical integrity, exploring its transition from past practices to our current standards and regulations. They recount a couple historical failures (the Union Oil Lemont refinery explosion in 1984 and the Shell Norco explosion in 1988) that highlight the importance of developing stringent inspection codes. The discussion touches upon the role of standards, the shift from locali...

In this episode of Upon Further Inspection, hosts Branden Stucky and Greg Alvarado discuss the concepts of qualitative and quantitative Risk-Based Inspection (RBI). They talk about the history of the API 581 RBI project from the early 1990s and explore how the methodologies have evolved from qualitative to quantitative approaches. The conversation highlights the benefits of both methods, the importance of systematic documentation, and the role of advancing technology in improving inspec...

In Episode 3 of Upon Further Inspection, co-host Greg Alvarado continues to share stories of his career and experiences, particularly focusing on his time with DNV and the significant projects he was involved in. The episode covers detailed case studies on Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) and Stress-Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking (SOHIC), including breakthrough practices and tests from the 1980s and 1990s. The discussion also touches on advancements in automated ultrasonic testing (UT) and...

In the inaugural episode of Upon Further Inspection, hosts Branden Stucky and Greg Alvarado kick things off with a conversation about their journeys in mechanical integrity and why this podcast exists. From the power of mentorship to the future of technology, they chat about what’s shaping the reliability and inspection world. They also explore how the industry continues to balance safety, environmental responsibility, and profitability. It’s an honest, insightful start to a series buil...

In this episode of Upon Further Inspection, Branden asks Greg about his extensive career in mechanical integrity and reliability, starting as a chief chemist at Dutch Boy Paints to becoming a key figure at Monsanto, DNV, and finally, at Equity Engineering. Throughout the episode, Greg discusses his passion for chemistry and metallurgy, the evolution of risk-based inspection (RBI), and the technological advancements in non-destructive evaluation (NDE). He shares insights on the importanc...