Increasing NPP Performance through Process-oriented Knowledge Management Approach

The objective of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on “Increasing NPP performance through process-oriented knowledge management approach” is to support the nuclear knowledge management (NKM) and implementation of NKM systems in Member States by selection and sharing of best industrial practices and effective technological solutions in order to increase NPP performance.
The objective will be reached through coordinated research and analysis by a CRP Team (members from participating organizations) which will identify alternative knowledge management systems and management methods and tools necessary to increase the business efficiency of the organizations. One of the inputs of the CRP should be the “IAEA Global Nuclear Power Plant Survey”. The survey has been sent first to those NPPs who had already a Knowledge Management Assist Visit. The result of that Assist Visit also could be used as an input to CRP.
Process-oriented nuclear knowledge management (POKM) is intended to serve as a detailed KM implementation guide for achieving and maintaining a high level of safety and improving efficiency. It will reinforce the understanding of KM as an integral part of a nuclear operating organization’s overall management system, not as a separate, stand-alone programme. In POKM, each knowledge management project is developed around the mission, an organizational process and objectives of the processes to define the scope of the project. At the heart of the POKM strategy is a knowledge management system (KMS) which operates a workflow management sub-system that enables capture of knowledge in context as it is created and then presents the right knowledge to the user at the right step of the process. The nuclear knowledge management repository contains not only knowledge created and managed in an organizational process, but also the knowledge of the process itself in the form of process designs, case histories and lessons learned from past experiences and international good practices. In other words POKM becomes more capable as experience is gained through feedback. POKM needs to be considered as an integral part of an overall management system.
Based on the result of the comparative analysis, recommendations/solutions and benchmarks for nuclear knowledge management systems will be developed. Alternative solutions are indicated due to the technology gap between Member States. These alternatives will facilitate interoperability, knowledge exchange and integration, improve the present understanding of various technological aspects of nuclear knowledge preservation and increase the efficiency of nuclear knowledge preservation projects in the IAEA and Member States.
The results of the CRP should be used for developing NE Series Guides to Nuclear Knowledge Management for different organizations as NPPs, Radioactive Waste Management Organizations, R&D and TSO organizations and Regulatory Organizations. The results of the CRP should be used also for the developing of the TECDOC Increasing NPP performance trough Process-oriented Knowledge Management Approach.
The CRP Team will recommend methods for implementation of NKM Systems. Subsequently, the CRP Team will document these methods and applications used for them within their areas of expertise. The results will be disseminated in printed and electronic form. Revision could be issued based on changing methods, technology and tools, and evaluation of the results of the recommended solutions for increasing efficiency of the nuclear organizations.