This Forum is the sixteenth in a series of events that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Atomic Forum (FORATOM) have organized to raise awareness and increase understanding of management systems as integrating all the vital objectives of nuclear facilities and activities.
This year’s Forum has a special focus on the management of the supply chain. The Forum also involves promoting the application of IAEA safety principles and standards, other IAEA guidance and informing participants about other international rules, regulations and standards and related literature.
The nuclear industry is undergoing a period of significant change, with the long-term operation (LTO) programmes underway and new build projects either in progress or planned in many countries. Some countries are embarking on a nuclear power program for the first time, while others are expanding their fleet. In some parts of the world, nuclear power programs are struggling, downsizing or even being phased out, resulting in significant implications on the supply chain strategy and management. The main reasons behind these changes are political, economic and environmental. In this context, it is important to consider the cross-cutting areas between supply chain management and management systems. Many LTO programmes will require different degrees of modernisation, refurbishment, and equipment replacement. The success of new nuclear plant construction (planned or underway) is fundamentally reliant on a healthy supply chain and established measures for its management.
The nuclear industry is also seeing many people and companies with specialist knowledge of e.g. design, fundamental safety principles or operation and maintenance, retiring from the workforce or leaving the nuclear industry. This gives rise to challenges and opportunities for a new generation of professionals and companies replacing them. Supply chain management is perhaps more important now than ever before and is facing challenges such as counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items (CFSI) or undeclared digital content in an increasingly globalized marketplace which require management systems to adapt.
This event is intended to give participants an opportunity to discuss these topics, to learn from one another, to influence international progress in this area, and to better understand their own situation and areas for improvement within their organizations.
VENUE:
Helsinki, Finland
7-10 September 2020
Original source: FORATOM
Published on 25 March 2020
