Banks Brace For US Fed Capital Buffers Inspection

WASHINGTON: The largest US banks and their foreign rivals face a tough two check your financial health of the Federal Reserve steps, forcing companies to get a better handle on how to measure risk.

In its "stress tests" year, the Fed gauge whether banks have enough capital to shareholders to withstand severe economic shock as the crisis of 2007-09, when taxpayers spent billions of dollars to maintain the industry afloat.

On Thursday, will be published the first stage of testing, the announcement that the 31 banks have fallen below the minimum of 5 percent of the capital of the first level.

But the hardest part of the test is March 11, when the Fed reveals if banks get approval for any anticipated increase in disbursements shareholders. Last year, four banks failed that obstacle, while only one fell below the first one.

Review next week takes a look under the hood of banks - which critics of Wall Street say they are "too big to handle" - by examining whether managers are really in control of their companies. The proof is increasingly difficult annually.

"If senior management ... cannot explain how these results occurred, (regulators) will have very little tolerance," said Ahson Pai, a partner at consulting firm SunGard, which helps large banks with tests.

Regulators overall have forced banks to borrow less to finance its activities after the crisis, and the stress tests are becoming increasingly important tool for the Fed to test the resilience of the industry.

It is expected that Deutsche Bank and Santander of Spain to fail the test next week, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It is the first year that Deutsche part in the exercise, but it would be the second consecutive year that Santander misses the cut.

Both companies declined to comment.

Last year, the Fed surprised markets by rejecting dividend boost Citigroup, a blow to CEO Michael Corbat, who had been working hard to improve relations with regulators after the bank suspended the test under his predecessor in 2012.

US units of HSBC and RBS were the two who failed the second test. Zions Bancorp was the only bank to lose 5 percent hurdle

SGS Non-Destructive Testing PCN & SNT Training & Exam Services: Training Schedule For The First Quarter Of 2015

The SGS Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Training and Examination Center based in Shanghai, known for its training services and internationally recognized comprehensive examination, has launched its Personal PCN Certification and training program SNT-TC-1A for the first quarter of 2015. SGS training and examination services are provided in accordance with EN ISO 9712: 2012.
SGS Training in China



In response to the growing demand for inspectors competent and qualified NDT, SGS NDT Training and Examination Center once again offer training, examination and certification of NDT specialists. The course program includes comprehensive training in both basic and advanced methods certified by the British Institute of NDT, subject to passing an examination END.

The SGS NDT Training and Examination Center in Shanghai has Authorized Qualifying Body (CBW) and Accredited Training Organization (ATO) status and subjected to vigorous BINDT audits. These accreditations allow SGS to conduct training and PCN examinations for Levels 1, 2 and 3 according to the PCN Certification Scheme that meets the criteria established by EN ISO 9712. Training and examination services for SGS 2015 cover conventional NDT methods and latest technology. The courses will be presented by experienced SGS specialists who possess extensive knowledge and experience needed to provide the level of training of high quality that SGS is committed.

Since training is a key component of the strategy for SGS to improve the quality and safety of everyone, SGS center in Shanghai will provide a comprehensive training program according to PCN and SNT requirements. Courses for 2015 (PDF 239 KB) include instruction in radiographic, magnetic, liquid penetrant, ultrasonic and eddy current testing and visual inspection, the time of flight diffraction elements in phase.

Courses scheduled for 2015 will be held in the SGS Non-Destructive Testing Training and Examination Center in Shanghai with additional courses planned in Shenzhen and other countries worldwide. Upon request, specific courses can be scheduled at business locations anywhere in the world.

The team SGS Training and testing Center in Shanghai look forward to welcoming your staff and provide them with the training, examination and certification necessary to conduct business successfully.

SGS NDT Testing Services

NDT provides the most effective test methods for components, materials and systems used to ensure compliance, identify defects and increase the useful life of the assets. Because NDT does not adversely affect any object under inspection is a valuable technique that not only saves time and money during the process of quality and safety assessment, but increases confidence in the integrity of the components. In order to ensure a reliable, personal inspection END-suitable trained and qualified, equipped with a latest equipment and skills are essential to the industry.

Making Risk-Based Inspection A Living Document

Senior engineer inspection David Burgess describes the experience of ABB Consulting of potential benefits and best practices for inspection (RBI) revalidation based on risk, which helps to further optimize inspection programs

Critics, such as pressure vessels, piping and storage tanks teams are often subject to risk-based inspection (RBI) to deliver optimal inspection policy and risk control. As the life of the team matures and businesses evolve, revalidation of existing RBI ensure they remain fit for purpose and evergreens.

 
What is RBI?
RBI is a methodical process to determine the optimal control system of industrial pressure equipment. The process involves a structured review of aspects teams to first identify possible mechanisms of injury / impairment assessment regarding the health, safety and environment (HSE) and business risks. A proper inspection policy can be determined to deliver a lower risk and optimized inspection regime. This often provides the additional benefits of reduced costs and to be more specific inspections to the risks identified resources.

In 1996, the American Petroleum Institute (API) published API 581 (Risk Based Inspection - Document Resource Base). This documents the methodology that has become adopted worldwide as the basis for the process of RBI.

WHAT IS THE RENEWAL RBI
RBI Reviews are generally performed for key critical equipment in any of the early stages of life, or at some point in their life cycle, often driven by integrity and / or budget considerations?

Revalidation is a process of reviewing existing RBI to check the assumptions made initial review are still valid and has not changed anything that could negatively affect the risk. RBI is based on performance, design, inspection and maintenance of data available at the time of the review. More data are added throughout the lifecycle of equipment that can confirm or contradict the assumptions made original RBI.

Due to the nature of the risk assessment, a conservative view is often taken during initial RBI reviews, particularly those made during the early life of the equipment where limited operating history and inspection. As a result, initial inspection requirements often can be set on the cautious side until more history and trust is earned.

Revalidation helps further optimize inspection programs and ensure that risks are properly managed either by increased inspection requirements where history shows evidence of deterioration and / or aging, or reduce inspection where there is little or no evidence of impairment. Frequency of inspection is reviewed and potential for non-invasive inspection is also considered where appropriate. This renewal process helps keep evergreen RBI and fit for purpose in a regulatory environment and increasingly challenging business.

WHEN SHOULD BE COMPLETED?
Ideally RBI should be reviewed after each major inspection to record the results and verify that the initial assumptions are still valid. If there have been unexpected failures or repairs, then RBI revalidation can also be a valuable process in establishing the root cause to prevent reoccurrence. As the plant begins to enter its aging phase lifecycle, RBI ensure revalidation frequency of inspection is safely within the allocations corrosion rate and possible restrictions limited life that may be relevant, such as creep and fatigue.

Who should be involved?
Validation RBI should preferably be carried out by an independent person with experience in inspection and integrity to give a balanced view. Also have to be consulted when needed during the review of Representatives operations, maintenance, inspection and any support from specialists such as engineers of materials / corrosion and functional.

Revalidation process RBI
The procedure for carrying out RBI revalidation begins with a review of the operation history to verify that there are no significant changes in key aspects such as process fluid composition, temperature and pressure constant for cyclic operation, decontamination / Implementation Methods up, etc. Any corrosion control / monitoring program can also be reviewed to ensure that it is being completed as required and that the results are within expectations.

Inspection results are checked against original assumptions RBI. Make unexpected deterioration mechanisms that are not counted? Are the rates of deterioration and location (s) as expected? Corrosion rates between inspections should not exceed 50 percent margin of corrosion. Or is the corrosion rate much less than expected?

The original RBI may have made assumptions about the maintenance program when deciding on the probability of failure scenarios, for example, the fully functional and properly maintained cathodic protection, vibration monitoring of rotating equipment occurs adjacent to detect potential vibration imparted. These must be audited to confirm that you are established in the RBI. Maintenance history may include faults or repairs not covered by the inspection or any maintenance carried out as a result of "one-time" process excursions.

HSE and commercial consequences may change over time. Changes in occupancy levels of staff, new equipment installed in the vicinity contains toxic / flammable, modifies the state of the single stream, reducing the capacity available on site. All these are examples that may affect the overall risk and justify changing the inspection regime.

RBI is often used to establish an appropriate inspection program before the team enters service. If a new application (process or materials), the original RBI may have recommended inspections "one-off" to confirm the possibility of very low probability deterioration mechanisms occur. This requirement may be removed inspection program if no problems are found during inspections. The results of RBI revalidation may be either, the inspection program RBI and remain appropriate, minor changes are required in the inspection program and RBI, or RBI is no longer valid and needs a major overhaul to produce a new program inspection.

RBI LIFE CYCLE AND EQUIPMENT
The impairment of tangible assets due to age-related mechanisms such as corrosion, erosion and fatigue is a key issue for the industry. The Health and Safety Executive have recognized the integrity of asset management and the issue of aging of the plant as key issues to address in their inspection programs. (HSE Research Report RR823, Aging Plant Manager).

Later life may be defined as after 80 percent of the design life, which may be based on the corrosion rate / grant, the number of operating cycles or creep life. As additional mechanisms of aging become relevant in later life a thorough review of the RBI is recommended. The combination Review RBI with a fitness for duty evaluation is often used to determine whether the useful life can be extended (see Figure 1)

RENEWAL RBI, STRATEGIES NII
RBI may determine that a strategy of non-invasive inspection (NII) is appropriate. NII suitability for decision depends on the operating conditions well understood and controlled so that any degradation can be properly identified and monitored through a noninvasive strategy inspection and fault the consequences are not significantly high. For these cases, it is particularly important that RBI revalidation occurs and is essential when the team enters its later stage of life.

CASE STUDY
ABB RBI undertook studies with a client of oil and gas onshore and offshore facilities, the project includes more than 1,000 items including vessels, storage tanks and 15 kilometers of piping systems. The study team included operations, processes, maintenance and inspection representatives and used a qualitative approach RBI. Following this examination was carried out RBI revalidation to check the assumptions made during the study and the results of specific tests to provide evidence of deterioration mechanisms that were thought to be unlikely. A key focus was to identify whether the review could be conducted by NII. After the initial RBI over 50 percent of the vessels were transferred to NII and revalidation RBI verified this approach.

Figure 2 shows the average interval between examinations and this change to the media after the initial RBI RBI and after revalidation. The client saved over 2.2 billion pounds ($ 3.42 million) in inspection costs, but the great advantage is the reduction in downtime of equipment and lower risk profile due to the understanding of specific degradation mechanisms.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS RBI RENEWAL
Independent RBI revalidation can also verify that the defined inspection program is suitable for detecting deterioration mechanisms mentioned and is being completed as specified by the RBI.

Foundry Service Center Playing Pivotal Role In Revival Of Foundry Industry In Pakistan

The Foundry Service Centre (FSC), created by the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEDA) in collaboration with the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and the Association of Pakistan foundry (PFA) is playing vital role in reviving the foundry industry in Pakistan. By Mr. Alamgir Chaudhry, CEO, SMEDA was said during a presentation on the establishment of the Centre fifth International Foundry Congress held at a local hotel, under the auspices of the PFA.

SMEDA CEO reported that the project was designed by the FSC SMEDA in demand for Pakistan Foundry Association at the expense of Rs.179-40 million. The land for this project was provided by UET. Whereas, the funds were obtained by SMEDA Ministry of Industries, Government of Pakistan under the Program Development Public Sector.

The FSC is providing the full range of the latest techniques and modern services that are practiced in the developed world that were not previously available in Pakistan for SMEs operating in the foundry sector, he said, adding that services include Store design patterns, section prototyping, testing and inspection laboratories, section technical advice and training facilities.

Mr Chaudhry said that the additional role of the Centre as a training institute has also proved very successful. He said SMEDA is organizing foreign experts for training in the center. In this regard he referred specifically to a recent training program organized by SMEDA in energy management, inviting Dr. Helmut Koerber, a renowned German international coach through GIZ.

International and national Congress delegates largely taken advantage of the facilities arranged by SMEDA to visit FSC tonight. Delegates during the visit, had a round around the center and the various departments, sections design, laboratories and production plant are examined.

They were very impressed by the art equipment and machinery installed there for modern catering industry needs. They highly appreciated the efforts of SMEDA to address the demand for foundry group in Pakistan by establishing FSC along with UET and PFA. Congress delegates urged to promote partnership of public and private sector in the pattern of FSC to create more facilitation centers in Pakistan.

New Power Meters Are 30-35pc Faster Than Old Ones: Commission

LAHORE: In a rare admission of mismanagement and fleecing people by the energy sector, the Committee of Inspection of the Prime Minister has been observed that the distribution companies (discos) have new meters that run installed at least 30 to 35 percent faster than previous ones and that companies can adjust their speed according to your needs.



In a letter - (1 (3) / DISC / SM / WCRP, dated 22/10/14)) entitled 'immediate' - the heads of the various distribution companies, commission prime minister has warned chief Executives of these companies against the issue and sought to direct questions on specific measurement issues and overbilling bedeviling the industry responses.

"Your office should be well acquainted with the issues and the disturbances caused by overbilling and additional Load Shedding by your company and employees under their control. In view of the situation, his department has done nothing so far, but the replacement of meters old with new (during 2012-13) running at least 30-35 percent faster. "

"As noted, the fast speed was adjusted to the demand of the company to increase revenue. It has also been learned that most of the leading meters got defective after a couple days (of operation) and give exorbitant readings the standard rate. The observation of the situation, the company adopted a strategy of replacing defective meters with new, correct gauges, but the situation has not improved so far. Many defective meters found slower than the standard had not been reported due to an apparent reason that will benefit consumers, "the letter said.

Given the situation, the committee demanded immediate information (for probe) into nine themes:

"How many meters of age have been changed in your jurisdiction in the last two or three years how much expenses were incurred in changing meters What companies had supplied these defective meters Who reported defects in these meters;??? Department maintenance or testing laboratory? How much faster speed than standard felt already installed? Who recommended the new meters being installed now? How much budget had been allocated in the last three years (year wise)? What companies are providing these meters? Name some testing laboratories able to test the ability of existing meters, "says the letter and directed the CEOs to provide all information required by return fax.

"Everyone in the industry knows the subject, and its breadth and depth," says a former head of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco).

He said that only Lesco had replaced a little less than two million meters in the last two years, and had shown his own record figures. Your billing August this year was a record Rs27.33 billion - at least Rs5 billion more than the amount collected in the previous month (July), he added.

The former head of Lesco is of the opinion that all these issues are matters of record and everyone in the Ministry of Water Resources, Power knows about them. The Prime Minister's Office has become aware of the situation only by the political situation. Otherwise, all ad hoc appointments in the sector aim to keep them docile, use them to fleece people and artificially enhance the financial health of the state. It is expected that the committee will not forget plight of people once the political pressure the government shuts down and takes the matter to its logical conclusion, which should also include 35 percent return the money back to the people, he says.

Pure Technologies Acquires Oil And Gas Pipeline Inspection Services Business

Pure Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire the business of inspection services for oil and gas pipelines and related assets of Hunter McDonnell Pipeline Services and its affiliated companies for $ 8 million.



It is expected that the closing of the transaction to occur early in the third quarter of 2014 For the year ended March 31, HM generated revenues of over $ 10 million.

Since 2011, HM has provided follow-up inspections of pure oil to customers in North America technology company SmartBall.

In 2013, HM Pura and entered into a collaboration agreement whereby HM Pure trained personnel to deploy the technology for oil SmartBall within North America.

HM business is, after the close of the transaction and transition operations are conducted through PureHM in Canada and the United States PureHM in the USA ...

19 Swimmers Drown Off Pakistan Beaches

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - At least 19 people have drowned on the beaches of southern Pakistan because of the strong waves and strong currents, rescuers said Thursday.

Shoaib Sadiqui, the administrator of the largest city of Pakistan, Karachi, said the victims ignored safety warnings and Wednesday drowned. He said a large number of people had gathered on the beach to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Farooq Baloch, the director of the largest private emergency service in Pakistan, said rescuers had recovered 19 bodies of water near the southern city.



Sadiqui said rescuers Pakistan Navy and the Edhi Foundation Baluch were still combing the waters for the missing.

"This is a very sad incident, and we are using all our resources to locate and rescue missing some of the remaining" he said. "We had imposed a ban on bathing and swimming on the beaches due to bad weather at sea, but some people ignore the safety warnings and drowned."

Private Pakistani news channels showed the families of the dead and missing mourn at the beach.

Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan and thousands of people visit the beaches during holidays.