EXCEPTION REPORTING OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS CONTROL

As fabrication, reprocessing, and residue streams of a nuclear plant tend to stabilize so do the procedures governing quality and material control and measurement points. Measurement con- trol procedures, acting as measurement monitors of nuclear materials, also tend to show a constant capability. That is, the systematic error or bias frequently retains the same algebraic sign, and the variability of the measurement remains within limited parameters. Surveillance of measurement control may be necessary, but perusal of measurement control summaries and data that do not change within the historical and capability parameters is undesirable. The nuclear materials manager is vitally interested in drastic measurement changes or the occur- rence of out of control data. These are data that the manager must have to evaluate and act. Exception reporting of measurement control precludes examining consistent data because they simply are not there. The excep- tion report flags unusual data and brings them to management attention. In the case of the RFD system, the report also informs the manager why certain data are exceptional and pro- vides supporting statistics. These advantages have been recognized by both RFD's nuclear material managers and those of the Division's customers.