An IAEA expert mission helped China’s Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant (DBNPP) managers to complete a roadmap for effective transfer of knowledge to new generations of workforce.
For decades, an ageing workforce has been a challenge for most operating nuclear power plants and their supporting vendors worldwide, including those in China. With the first nuclear power reactor connected to the grid in 1991, China became the world’s biggest builder of nuclear power plants. To successfully continue the safe and efficient operation of its 37 existing reactors and 20 others under construction, the country’s nuclear industry requires a large, qualified workforce and effective knowledge management system to preserve acquired knowledge.
The IAEA assists Member States in improving or developing knowledge management programmes to address these challenges.
Serving as one of the methods of this assistance, an IAEA Knowledge Management Assist Visit (KMAV) mission was hosted by DBNPP from 15 to 19 May in Shenzhen region, China. The mission concluded a year-long preparation and training on developing an integrated approach to capacity building and knowledge management. The Agency’s expert team provided guidance to the power plant managers on how to incorporate knowledge management practices into organizational business processes.
“Senior managers understand that knowledge is an asset and resource that must be protected and maintained through a well thought knowledge management programme,” said John De Grosbois, Head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Knowledge Management Section. “This, in turn, will enable and support effective decision making, especially when risk-significant issues arise.”
The Roadmap is an outcome of these continued support to the owner/operator aimed at enhancing its applied knowledge management and tailored in accordance with DBNPP needs and requirements as well as based on good practices drawn on international experience.
“We will take into account all IAEA recommendations on the implementation of our knowledge management projects,” said Lee Chi Sing, Deputy Plant Manager of Daya Bay NPP. “Especially, mentoring, coaching and talent searching would be interesting practices to apply at DBNPP.”
Mentoring, coaching and talent searching would be interesting practices to apply at Daya Bay NPP.