Examples of SAT project implementation

SAT introduction at Balakovo started in 1993. The first steps in SAT were made within the contract with S3 Technologies/USA and VNTIAES. Then a large-scope SAT implementation project was launched in the framework of the former Lisbon Initiative (now Soviet Design Reactor Safety Programme) This project includes SAT implementation for 12 training programmes (both initial and continuing):

• unit shift supervisor

• turbine field operator

• reactor field operator

• senior duty electrical technician

• I&C shift supervisor

• shift chemistry technician

• reactor mechanical maintenance technician

• rotating mechanism mechanical maintenance technician

• electrical maintenance technician

• I&C maintenance technician

• HP shift supervisor

• fire inspector

The current status (as of March 1997) of these 12 SAT based training programmes is as follows. On average, 50% of developmental and implementation work is done, resulting m pilot courses conduct. Now three more SAT based training programmes' development have been initiated at the plant, reactor control system maintenance technician, refueling machine maintenance technician, and MCR turbine operator.

Six more general purpose training courses have been implemented:

• SAT methodology

• Safety culture

• Industrial safety

• Instructor training course, including classroom training development and conduct, on-the-job training development and conduct, full-scope simulator instructor training course

• Administrative procedures development

• Supervisor training course

Within the project, plant and training organizational structures were modified, necessary administrative and development documents were elaborated and implemented, and training infrastructure was upgraded.

All project activities are supported by the US specialists of Sonalysts, Inc., a company subcontracted by the US Brookhaven Laboratory. The DOE/USA co-ordinates project implementation from the US side Sonalysts' experts are directly involved m all project activities, coaching, facilitating project team, and providing sample materials, as well as providing consulting services. Balakovo nuclear power plant project team members, including the instructors, are now practically ready for independent work to further develop the plant training system. One of the most important achievements of project implementation resulted m the co-ordination of Balakovo nuclear power plant policies m the fields of safety and training.

516.22 Kursk nuclear power plant

Exitech International Corporation/USA and Joint-Stock Company ENIKO MIFI/Russian Federation now are upgrading the Kursk nuclear power plant training system, based on SAT Exitech and ENIKO MIFI are directly involved in all on-site development, coaching, and project management activities. The project was initiated m December 1994, and should be completed in 1997.

SAT training programmes are being developed for:

• Instructor

• Supervisory personnel

• Plant shift supervisor (all technical operation job positions are for the second stage of Kursk nuclear power plant)

• MCR reactor operator

• Turbine department shift supervisor

• Reactor equipment maintenance supervisor

• Unit shift supervisor

• MCR senior unit operator (BOP)

• MCR turbine operator

• Electrical department shift supervisor

• New cost-effective approach to and training programmes for all plant maintenance personnel

• MCR personnel team-work training programme.

This Kursk nuclear power plant project is complex and is contributing not only to training, but also to procedure upgrades, safety culture enhancement, nuclear power plant organizational structure optimization, HPES implementation, job position description upgrades, etc.

One of the most important achievements is a new vision and commitment of plant and line management towards training ownership.

5.16.2.3. Novovoronezh TC

SAT introduction at Novovoronezh TC (NVTC) had started in 1991 in the framework of former USSR/USA-DOE Initiative (WWER-440 Design Reactor Safety Enhancement Programme).

This project included the development of special SAT based continuing training on symptom based emergency procedures. This training was delivered to Novovoronezh nuclear power plant MCR crews.

Large-scope SAT implementation at NVTC began in 1993 for training programmes (both initial and continuing) as shown in Table II

TABLE II. SAT BASED PROGRAMMES AT NVTC.

(A) Training for WWER-1000 (B) Training for WWER-440 1. Unit shift supervisor

2. Turbine field operator 3. Reactor field operator 4. MCR reactor operator 5. MCR turbine operator 6. Reactor core engineer

7. Reactor mechanical maintenance technician

8. Rotating mechanism mechanical maintenance technician

9. Electrical maintenance technician 10. I&C maintenance technician 11. QA engineer

12. Surveillance & testing engineer 13. Line managers training

1. Unit shift supervisor 2. MCR turbine operator 3. MCR reactor operator

Current status (as of March 1997) of these SAT based training programmes is as follows. On the average 80% of implementation work is done for WWER-1000, 40% of development and implementation work is done for WWER-440. Now some more SAT based training programmes' development are initiated at TC.

Four more general purpose training courses are being implemented:

• Introduction to SAT

• Industrial Safety and Radiation Protection

• Instructor training course

• Supervisory training course.

Six special safety courses (for MCR crews and nuclear power plant managers) as well as instructor training are being implemented now.

Within the projects, the TC organizational structure was modified, overall TC infrastructure was upgraded, new training tools were installed, including simulators, CBT complex, and tools for maintenance personnel training

Resources for SAT implementation include local Russian ones, TACIS-91 projects, ROSENERGOATOM/EDF (France) Cooperation Programme, Russian/Japan Cooperation Programme, and others NVTC had a chance to compare different SAT models in practice Now a transformation of the training being delivered to nuclear power plant personnel at the NVTC to SAT based training is close to completion

5.16.3. Experience gained through the introduction and use of SAT 51631 Visible benefits

• It is too soon to say that newly implemented SAT based training programmes have greatly increased personnel qualification or competence, and plant performance records But what might be stated is that new SAT based training is positively viewed by plant management, by the trainees and trainers

• SAT introduction visibly and positively influenced plant management, QA/QC processes, procedure modifications, organizational structures upgrade

• Features of training staff and plant personnel involved in SAT project such as teamwork, competence, attitudes, communication skills (and other soft skills) were significantly developed

• SAT activities such as training needs analysis, evaluation, have activated and upgraded plant personnel understanding m root cause analysis, human performance evaluation techniques, etc

• Overall training infrastructure was upgraded, and now it more effectively supports training conduct and development

• Cost-effectiveness of training methodology and tools is acknowledged by plant and training managers

• Expensive training tools (such as full-scope simulators) are becoming real training tools through performance based and consistent training material development

51632 Implementation problems

• Lack of funds influenced many projects, the understanding of a need for careful resource planning was not from the very beginning

• In some cases the analysis phase was cost-ineffective In other projects a more effective analysis approach was in use

• In some cases the initial set of SAT procedures was absent In other projects the sequence of project activities was planned more carefully

• Instructor competency was a challenge for training system development Many opportunities were explored and many efforts taken to achieve instructor competency These included instructor job design and analysis, instructor training programme development (using SAT methodology), conduct of various training courses (at training departments and in foreign countries), visits and fellowships to overseas training centres and companies, instructor involvement in SAT project teams, pilot courses conduct with video recording, etc To co-ordinate instructor training activities we decided to establish the so-called instructor school at Novovoronezh Training Centre

Instructors and plant personnel involved in training material development but had no writers' experience. Training on this matter was conducted, but time was needed to fix this problem QA for training, and for project conduct as well, had been not practically implemented at nuclear power plants and in training centres in the past. SAT projects where QA development was focused brought many positive advantages to the conduct of plant business.

Local project managers or group leaders assigned by their managers did not have enough knowledge, skills, and attitudes to perform their new duties. The development of these managerial competencies became one of the aims of SAT projects.

In some cases the quality of project and training material was rather low. It dictated necessary upgrade of project and training infrastructure, as well as special training activities. In other projects, when training system needs analysis was performed carefully, that problem was fixed from the very beginning But this challenge is still present, as the project budget is restricted, the plants sometimes not had enough resources for maintaining training infrastructure.

A big problem was to modify plant and training departments' organizational structures m order to develop training systems and to support SAT implementation. Within comprehensive projects (e.g. Balakovo and Kursk nuclear power plants, NVTC) this problem was successfully resolved.

Regulatory base does not strictly require the use of SAT. But, in principle, this is not so significant It is more important to have clear regulatory requirements that lead to reliable training and qualification of nuclear power plant personnel. Necessary regulatory developments in this connection are going on.

Co-ordination of and co-operation between SAT projects needs more attention, and sharing of the results obtained should be very useful. An effective mechanism should be created for this purpose, as some projects have the nature of technical support and are funded by other countries or communities, others are performed on a contractual basis, and many activities are .performed by the plants themselves. The need for co-operation of the plants, operating organizations, and organizations providing training services should naturally result from the nuclear regulatory body requirements for nuclear power plant personnel training and qualification, an effective information exchange, and management understanding of significantly high costs of SAT introduction.

5.16 3 3 Support and involvement of management

Some SAT projects received management support, others not.

To obtain real management support at the plant level the following activities were actually performed:

• Conduct SAT seminar for management

• Demonstrate to them in overseas training centres how SAT works, what are direct and indirect benefits of SAT implementation.

• Involve plant management directly in needs analysis, evaluation, resource planning, and training review committees activities.

• Involve plant management in development of some supervisory courses, to understand SAT better.

• Provide to plant management inputs from training development, and from procedure and other plant documentation upgrading.

• Provide an opportunity for plant management to show to the international community and to national organizations their training ownership and achievements.

5.16.3.4 Use of previous training capabilities

Use of training materials and tools developed earlier depends upon their quality and content.

Computer training tools, e.g. simulators and CBT systems, are in use in SAT based training programmes, but sometimes need additional or new training materials. As for training materials, it is not unusual, with table-top analysis, that training objectives and tests are developed and incorporated into old training programme, and it appears that this is sometimes cost-effective.

5.16.3.5. Assessment of trainee performance

Concerning job-related performance, objective assessment of trainees needs further development and improvement. But the basis absolutely exists. The problem is a lack of training tools, laboratories, and workshops for the OJT now. Testing of knowledge and cognitive task performance is conducted on high level, but sometimes not so performance based as needed. This is one of the reasons for the implementation and further promotion of SAT projects.

5.16.3.6 Evaluation of training programmes

New training needs are identified. Feedback from trainees, instructors, and plant managers (including line management) is obtained and incorporated. Concerning use of plant performance indicators in training effectiveness evaluation, we consider this problem as an important one but one not resolved for many countries and utilities.

5.16.3 7. SAT based training programmes maintaining

The approaches and the range for maintaining SAT programmes are very large at Russian nuclear power plants and training centres. At the plants and m the organizations where SAT projects have considerable and comprehensive nature, special people are assigned and trained to maintain paper documentation and databases generated from all SAT phases. The training manager or his deputy has the primary responsibility for maintaining materials, as well as for all training QA activities. In modem training centres/departments special software and databases are in use to develop and maintain SAT and other training data and materials. But a configuration management system should be an issue of exclusive management attention, as it provides reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness of training. SAT gives an excellent technological basis for configuration management.