Upon Further Inspection
Upon Further Inspection, the mechanical integrity podcast, uses engaging interviews to celebrate the people, stories, and real-world industrial reliability experiences.
Every episode explores topics that matter most to professionals in oil & gas, refining, petrochemical, and other process industries. Through in-depth conversations with industry experts, we discuss themes like continuous improvement, safety, technology advancements, compliance, risk-based inspection, and professional growth.
Upon Further Inspection
Codes, Committees, and Critical Thinking (featuring Brent Ray)
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In part 2 of our conversation with Brent Ray, we take a deeper look at his extensive work with industry codes and standards through API, ASME, and NBIC. Brent reflects on how reviewing a marked up draft of API 571 in 2003 helped launch a path that later included chairing API 581, API 580, the Subcommittee on Inspection and Mechanical Integrity, and the API Inspection Summit. Throughout the discussion, he discusses the challenge of writing standards that are both technically sound and accessible, and offers advice to young engineers trying to make sense of complex and overlapping guidance.
Brent also gives listeners an inside look at the 10th API Inspection Summit coming to San Antonio in July 2026, including new divisions, expanded training, a charity golf tournament, and the much-anticipated “Gray Beards” panel. He shares candid career wisdom on navigating emerging standards like ASME Section 5 Subsection C, the challenge of bridging NBIC and fitness-for-service communities, and what he hopes his legacy will be: the engineer’s engineer.
Whether you are active in codes and standards work, preparing to attend your first API Inspection Summit, or simply looking to strengthen your technical foundation, Brent's perspective offers valuable lessons on leadership, communication, and what it means to serve the broader industry. Subscribe today so you don't miss our next episode!
- 00:00 Introduction and API engagement origins
- 00:49 Brent’s early history with codes and standards
- 02:55 First API meeting experience
- 05:39 Chairing API 581 and saving it from sunset
- 07:07 ASME PCC involvement and API subcommittee leadership
- 07:50 API Inspection Summit chair role and cross-industry communication
- 10:35 NBIC, state boiler inspectors, and the evolving role of fitness for service
- 13:52 ASME Section 5 Subsection C — new in-service NDE rules explained
- 18:38 Advice for young engineers navigating codes and standards
- 22:27 Critical thinking, connecting the dots, and avoiding hasty conclusions
- 25:19 Quick glossary: API 578, API 751, ASME PCC 1/2/3, PTB-2
- 29:36 API Inspection Summit 10th anniversary preview — San Antonio, July 2026
- 38:35 Career edification and taking one nugget a day from Summit
- 41:15 Wildest process units: FCC catalyst and the Cuming unit explosion
- 43:48 Career legacy — the engineer’s engineer
- 45:36 Conclusion and podcast credits
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Episode Acronyms & Abbreviations
- AI — Artificial Intelligence
- AMPP — Association for Materials Protection and Performance
- API — American Petroleum Institute
- APM — Asset Performance Management
- ASME — American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- EAP — Enterprise Asset Performance
- FCC — Fluid Catalytic Cracking
- HF Alky — Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation
- KPI — Key Performance Indicator
- MI —
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Note: The views and opinions expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts or the Upon Further Inspection podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Listeners should seek their own qualified advisors for guidance.
