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This article delves into the specific benefits, challenges, and real-world applications of PTW software within industrial settings, featuring case studies from oil refineries and petrochemical industries. It’s essential reading for businesses still navigating the transition from paper-based systems.
Effective management plays a key role in preventing failures in industrial turnarounds. Careful planning is crucial, as studies show that 80% of turnarounds tend to exceed their budgets without proper oversight. STO (Shutdown, Turnaround, and Outage) software can significantly enable efficient cost control and decision-making during these complex operations.
Digital transformation in H&S leverages permit to work software to streamline compliance and safety. Focus shifts from paperwork to core tasks.
The move from paper-based safety systems to digital permit to work software significantly enhances worker safety, compliance, and procedural efficiency.
Staying ahead of the competition isn’t just about having the latest gadgets or cutting-edge equipment. It’s about having the vision to see beyond the horizon, the insight to anticipate what’s coming, and the drive to turn innovation into action.
As the world grapples with the complexities of energy production, environmental concerns, and economic pressures, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this industry is becoming increasingly prevalent.
The UK’s decision to raise taxes on North Sea oil and gas production has provoked strong reactions from industry players and set the stage for a complex interplay of economic, political, and environmental factors. As the country navigates this challenging landscape, the outcomes will have significant implications for its energy future and economic stability, particularly under the new Labour government’s more stringent environmental policies.
How Digitalisation Can Revolutionise Your Turnaround Performance, Ensuring Timely and Budget-Friendly Execution.
As the wider industry continues to struggle with unplanned outages, savvy organisations are seeing this as an opportunity to invest in improving plant reliability to capture market value - Read on to help your organisation Weather the Storm!
Our latest article explores maintenance planning and scheduling, exploring its complexities and offering insights into turning operational frustrations into gateways for continuous improvement.
In the journey towards software selection, the terms "configuration" and "customisation" often appear interchangeable. However, these words hold distinct meanings and implications that can significantly impact your software investment. Understanding these differences is crucial for making an informed decision that aligns with your organisations needs and budget.
In our last newsletter, we emphasised the importance of stakeholder involvement, engagement, and empowerment from the outset of any software project. This week, we explore the need for a common, agreed vision coupled with strong leadership—integral components for any successful software project.
The right software can revolutionise operations, but the path from selection to full utilisation is complex and filled with potential pitfalls. This week, we discuss why involving, freeing up, and empowering stakeholders from the outset is not just beneficial—it's essential.
This article explores the crucial role of language alignment between software providers and organisations for successful software integration. Highlighting the challenges of diverse terminologies across industries, it underscores strategies to enhance communication and streamline the adoption process, drawing on insights from Ross Coulan's talk, 'Secrets to a Successful STO'.
In the shift towards digital workspaces, the need for digitalising safety and compliance documentation has become paramount. Traditional paper-based methods, fraught with inefficiencies and high non-compliance risks, are being replaced by innovative digital solutions. IAMPermit by IAMTech stands out as a key player in this transformation. As a SaaS offering, it revolutionises the management of work activities, including permits, isolations (LOTO), and job safety assessments (JSA). Read on to find out how IAMPermit can help to reshape and improve safety compliance within your organisation.
This article is your guide to navigating the vast terrain of digital transformation, from pinpointing where to start, to choosing the right technologies, and safeguarding your journey with robust cybersecurity. Ready to take the first step? Let's explore the essentials for a successful transition into the digital era.
The IAMTech team had the privilege of attending the NEPIC Asset Management Conference at Hardwick Hall last week. Speakers divulged the challenges and opportunities facing today's industrial landscape. From aging assets to soaring maintenance costs, we're witnessing a pivotal shift towards proactive maintenance strategies. In our latest article, discover how industry leaders are reshaping the landscape of plant maintenance, emphasising a holistic approach that integrates energy efficiency and cutting-edge technologies as fundamental pillars of success.
This article explores effective outage management strategies and how iPlanSTO can revolutionise the approach to both planned and unplanned outages.
Opting for internal benchmarking often proves more resource-efficient, both in terms of time and financial investment. Unlike external benchmarking, which demands access to often elusive or expensive competitor data and insights, internal benchmarking focusses on your organisation's own processes. This introspective approach facilitates the identification of best practices, highlights inefficiencies, and uncovers areas ripe for enhancement. With a thorough understanding of your internal workings, you can craft targeted improvement plans that are finely tuned to your company's specific challenges and opportunities.
Explore how the convergence of strategic standardisation and cutting-edge technology is reshaping the landscape of Shutdowns, Turnarounds, and Outages (STO) in modern industries. Ready to master the future of industry?
In the intricate world of STOs, where precision is paramount, iPlanSTO emerges as a comprehensive and user friendly solution that elevates daily operations for all members of a Turnaround Team.
Navigating the Legal Landscape of Work Permits: A Comprehensive Insight IAMTech's latest newsletter delves into the intricate world of Permit to Work (PTW) systems and the significant repercussions of non-compliance. PTW isn't just a safety measure; it's a legal imperative. This systematic approach ensures hazardous tasks are executed safely, but failing to adhere to regulations can lead to severe consequences, including fines and criminal charges. As technology evolves, digital PTW systems like IAMPermit are replacing traditional formats. Find out how these solutions can streamline processes and enhance safety measures.
In our latest newsletter, we discuss essential strategies for guiding your workforce and organisation through the transformative journey of the Digital Age. In today's dynamic industrial landscape, digital transformation has evolved from a mere choice into an absolute necessity. This sweeping wave of change holds the promise of increased safety, enhanced efficiency, heightened competitiveness, and boundless innovation. However, there's a significant hurdle blocking the path to progress—FEAR! Many employees within businesses, steeped in traditional methods, paper based or Excel, may find it challenging to embrace digital solutions. In this blog post, we take a deep dive into how organizations can address these apprehensions and empower their employees to successfully navigate the digital transformation journey. We'll explore the reasons behind some workers' reluctance towards digital transformation and provide insights into overcoming these challenges through training, effective communication, fostering a digital-friendly culture, and providing unwavering support.
In our latest newsletter we discuss profit potential and the benefits of STO Software for businesses. In the world of industrial operations, every moment of downtime comes with a hefty price tag. In this article, we'll explore the numerous benefits of STO software for businesses, shedding light on how it can help unlock profit potential and streamline operations.
By embracing norms-based estimation and utilising iPlan software, organisations can optimise their STO events, reduce risks of cost overruns and delays, and drive continuous improvement. This approach provides a solid foundation for effective planning and execution, ultimately leading to increased STO efficiency and profitability for the asset owner operator by increasing the likelihood of successfully meeting the plant startup.
In the 1970s, the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced a permit to work system as part of its guidance on the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations. This system required companies to obtain permits before carrying out certain types of work, and included detailed procedures for hazard identification, risk assessment, and permit issuance.
STO (Shutdown – Turnaround – Outage) events can be extremely challenging for companies, often resulting in significant downtime (planned & unplanned), lost revenue from loss of production (planned & unplanned), and an increase in safety risks. Here at IAMTech, we've developed a software solution that simplifies the planning and execution of STO events and helps you minimise downtime, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. With iPlanSTO, we're confident that we can help you streamline your STO events and improve your events performance.
In many cases, a Permit To Work will require the use of Isolations to ensure the safety of workers during the work activity. For example, if a worker needs to carry out maintenance on a piece of machinery that involves hot work, they will need to obtain a PTW to ensure that the work is planned and carried out safely. As part of the PTW process, the worker will need to ensure that the machinery is isolated and locked out using Isolations procedures before commencing work.
One of the main challenges during shutdowns is managing the health and safety of maintenance workers who are exposed to various hazards. In this context, the implementation of work packs can significantly reduce the risk of injury to maintenance workers. This article will discuss the benefits of work packs in mitigating risks during process plant shutdowns and turnarounds.
Many industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas, have traditionally relied on paper-based permit systems, and some organisations may still be using paper-based systems due to a variety of reasons, such as lack of awareness about software-based solutions, budget constraints, or resistance to change; however, digitizing processes in industry can help organisations operate more efficiently, safely, and effectively, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.
When building a schedule in Primavera for a process plant turnaround, both the total manhours and the total duration of each activity are important factors to consider, but they serve different purposes.
To ensure that the turnaround is successful, it is essential to plan and execute it efficiently, considering the various risks and uncertainties associated with the process.
In this blog we look at the increasing dependence on external contractors to help execute the majority of STO’s, the pitfalls, and how to avoid failure when executing your next turnaround! The key challenges we look at are: ● Skills and Coordination ● Lack of Asset Knowledge ● Measuring and Optimising Productivity We will then look at how to overcome these challenges to dramatically increase your productivity and create robust working relationships with your contractors using iPlan from IAMTech
In this blog we look at what scope creep is and 5 ways to avoid it when planning for your next shutdown turnaround outage project. Five key areas covered are: 1. Establishing the needs and parameters 2: The importance of thorough planning 3: Using technology and automation to increase efficiency 4: Choosing the right team, clearly defining their roles, empowering them, and giving them the required working time for the role 5: Adhering to your Management of Change process
Shutdowns Turnarounds Outages (STO) are pretty intense, and can take a toll on mental health if they are not going to plan. However, they are vital, to ensure the smooth running of business critical assets, such as - chemical plants, refineries, power stations and more. The key to a less stressful shutdown turnaround outage is how they are planned, managed, and ultimately, executed. At IAMTech, our software has managed hundreds of successful shutdowns, turnarounds, outages, for the world's leading companies like ALTRAD, BP, INEOS, SHELL and many others. This first hand experience, not theory, allows us to help others improve their STO’s. Find out how IAMTech’s iPlanSTO software has been engineered to take the pain out of your STO’s. Contact us for a free demo today via sales@iamtech.com Here are some simple tips on how to reduce stress managing your shutdowns turnarounds outages.
In this blog we look at what scope creep is and 5 ways to avoid it when planning for your next shutdown turnaround outage project. Five key areas covered are: 1. Establishing the needs and parameters 2: The importance of thorough planning 3: Using technology and automation to increase efficiency 4: Choosing the right team, clearly defining their roles, empowering them, and giving them the required working time for the role 5: Adhering to your Management of Change process
Anyone in the Turnaround Maintenance planning game knows that a) accurate & b) consistent, task estimation is a challenge. This is then further complicated when calculating the duration, effort & cost of 10000’s of activities of a major capital project – a daunting prospect! From decades of experience, we have seen how wildly activity estimates can range, even amongst the most experienced of planners and estimators. This is due to the immense complexity and scale of capital projects, and a little known phenomenon called anchoring. In this blog we look at how norms can increase the accuracy of our estimation and refine your estimates to achieve a plus or minus accuracy of 10%.
Benchmarking is a key aspect in optimizing your plant turnarounds! It allows you to compare the performance of prior TAs and use this information to improve future planning by assessing historical costs and improving the accuracy of future estimates. Turnarounds are resource intensive, and it is critical to optimize processes to gain the most value from these events, reducing the time the plant is offline. In this blog, we will look at what Plant Turnarounds are, and how benchmarking can help improve your efficiency, reduce costs, and cut down the time they take to increase production revenue.
In this Q&A, Ross Coulman, CEO of IAMTech, shares his 3 favourite benefits of the company's flagship product, iPlan...
Are you in the market for software to help you manage your Shutdowns, Turnarounds and Outages (STO’s)? If so, these tips should help you select the right software, for your organization!
Oil, gas, chemical & energy industries, like the rest of the world, are still feeling the lingering impact of COVID-19. Organisations from all industry sectors are now starting to understand the long-term implications and are quickly adopting new ways of working, to help minimise the effects on their work force and assets...
Choosing the right turnaround software can be a daunting task. The right choice is critical for ensuring maximum return on investment can be achieved. In this blog we look at the key questions you should ask, to help you select a solution that is most suited to your business.
What is a Turnaround, anyway? The vehicle to change the competitive position of an asset and/or the restoration of lost asset capacity. The Down Side: Plant shutdowns for scheduled major maintenance work are the most expensive and time-consuming of maintenance projects because of the loss of production and the expense of the Turnaround itself.
Maintenance, turnarounds, and ongoing capital modifications of large assets / plants are complex undertakings that involve a collaborative effort of hundreds or even thousands of skilled workers and management.
Industrial maintenance always comes with challenges. Ensuring your maintenance team and the equipment it manages are safe and efficient should be your number one priority.
Do you have a business requirement, that you cannot find an off the shelf software product for? Our software solutions services team is ready now to capture your requirements, provide a detailed estimate & to help you produce your business case.
