Using information value chains for asset management planning

The manner in which an asset management plan (AMP) is documented depends on the utility's perception of what information needs to be shared and how best to communicate it to the plan's reviewers and approvers. This function of information selection should be taken outside the document itself, in the sense that the manner of presentation should not affect the information that needs to be documented. The information documented in an AMP needs to be based on a nested data structure that clearly illustrates the data's provenance, how it was processed and analyzed, and what controls are in place to validate the processed information. The use of information value chains (IVCs) for planning is founded on the concept that decisions and investments driven by sound data, as agreed with key stakeholders such as regulators, are irrefutable. The only possible considerations remaining are design and affordability. Developing an IVC is also valuable because it makes the planning process more sustainable and consistent. In summary, preparing IVCs saves time and effort, while safeguarding quality. Documentation would only follow information preparation, where data quality becomes the dominant measure of the AMP's completeness.