This is carried out for individual component (equipment or piping) of the operating facility. This usually involves - visual inspection of failed item at site and sample accumulation; collection of data and historical records pertaining to item’s design, construction, inspection, repair and maintenance, process and operation, etc.; identification, testing and characterization of damage morphologies, material and deposits, etc. in well-equipped laboratory; analysis and interpretation of experimental results in light of historical records and attributing root cause of failure; recommend preventive or remedial measures to avoid problem in future, etc.