During the NISTM 2025 event, Leslie Ward, founder and CEO of Leslie Ward Consulting, shared her vision on the current challenges of industrial inspection in the midstream sector. With a career that combines experience as an owner-operator and consultant in multiple energy sectors, Ward has decided to focus her firm on a specific purpose: improving the integrity of critical facilities without falling into the bureaucratic traps that affect large consulting firms.
Ward founded her consulting firm in 2024, intending to work on projects where she could truly add technical value. Her focus is on relief device inspection, corrosion under insulation, corrosion management in piping dead legs, and process safety audits. She also advises companies on reviewing procedures, training, and the proper use of technical documentation such as RAGAGEP guidelines.
As he explained, his independence allows him to be directly involved in solutions without depending on what a commercial department imposes. "I don't work with what sells; I work with what is needed," he said during the interview.
One of the most relevant points raised by Ward was the way in which inspection reports are written. In his opinion, many companies only document faults, omitting aspects that are in good condition. This prevents real changes from being detected in future inspections, making it difficult to prevent incidents.
"Understanding change is the most important thing in an industrial inspection. If good and bad findings are not recorded, you cannot measure progress or deterioration," he said. Complete documentation is useful for both technical analysis and supporting data-driven decisions.
The adoption of tools such as drones and scanners has transformed the way inspections are carried out, making it unnecessary to build scaffolding or expose personnel. However, Ward emphasized that technology must be accompanied by trained professionals who interpret the information in real time.
"Recording is not inspecting. There are many records that are made without anyone with integrity experiencing supervising the material. That's taking pictures, not doing industrial inspection."
Beyond his technical knowledge, Ward highlights his ability to collaborate and connect specialists. He acknowledges that he does not have all the answers, but he knows exactly who to turn to when a complex challenge arises. This collaborative network has enabled him to offer tailored solutions to diverse problems in midstream, refining, and petrochemical facilities.
With a keen vision, field experience, and a network of specialists, Leslie Ward offers a serious alternative to traditional inspection. His approach, focused on comprehensive documentation and the intelligent use of technology, represents a more efficient and professional way to keep industrial assets in safe condition.
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Source: Inspenet.
