Management of Change(MOC)
Definition
A systematic process for evaluating, approving, implementing, and documenting changes to process equipment, technology, procedures, or organizational structure that could affect safety, health, environment, or operations. MOC ensures that all changes are reviewed for potential hazards, that appropriate safeguards are implemented, and that affected personnel are informed and trained before the change is implemented.
Context
A core governance module in Reliatic. The MOC module manages change requests through their full lifecycle: initiation, hazard review, approval, implementation, and close-out. MOC integrates with the audit trail for immutable tracking and with the FMEA module to ensure that changes are evaluated for impact on failure modes.
Examples
- A process engineer submits an MOC for changing the operating temperature of a reactor from 350C to 380C. The hazard review identifies new high-temperature damage mechanisms (creep, HTHA) that require updated inspection plans and material verification.
- An MOC for installing a new chemical injection point triggers a review of downstream corrosion circuits, updating the RBI assessment and FMEA for all affected equipment.
Applicable Standards
- 29 CFR 1910.119
- API 750
- ISO 45001:2018
- IEC 61511
Related Terms
A formal document initiating the Management of Change process, describing the proposed change, its justification, the affected equipment and systems, the assessment of potential hazards and impacts, the proposed implementation plan, and the required approvals. Change requests capture the 'what, why, how, and who' of a proposed modification.
Approval GateA checkpoint in a governed workflow where an authorized person must review and explicitly approve before the process can proceed to the next stage. Approval gates enforce segregation of duties, ensure that decisions are made by personnel with appropriate authority, and create auditable decision points. Each gate has defined entry criteria, review requirements, and authority levels.
Audit TrailA chronological record of system activities, decisions, and data changes that provides documentary evidence of the sequence of events that have affected a specific operation, procedure, or artifact. In asset integrity management, the audit trail records who made what change, when, why, and with what authorization, creating an unbroken chain of evidence for regulatory compliance and forensic investigation.
OSHA PSM(PSM)Process Safety Management — OSHA's regulatory standard (29 CFR 1910.119) requiring employers to identify, evaluate, and control hazards associated with highly hazardous chemicals. PSM mandates 14 elements including process hazard analysis, mechanical integrity, management of change, operating procedures, training, and incident investigation.
Governance EventA discrete, auditable event in the lifecycle of a governed artifact (asset, risk, MOC, inspection) that records a decision, approval, status change, or significant action. Governance events capture who did what, when, why, and with what authorization. They form the backbone of the audit trail and provide the evidence chain for regulatory compliance.
Where this appears in Reliatic
This concept is used in the Governance module.