The term ‘Operational Transformation’ has been around for years, but what does it actually mean, and what are the catalysts to move towards it? In our latest blog post we explore the definition behind Operational Transformation and how it applies to the power industry, alongside its eight key drivers.
Running a power generation and energy retailer business has always been complex. This is a competitive, capital-intensive, and dynamic industry that can make any change management difficult – particularly when it comes to your people and the technology they use.
The power industry is navigating a massive industrial change moving from centralized thermal-powered generators to those with renewable generation. Although the change is needed for the industry to align with climate change initiatives, it is not one without its challenges.
For power generation companies looking to maximize new renewable generation investments, understanding exactly what Operational Transformation is and how to implement it is critical to assuring asset health, minimizing maintenance spend, and improving plant reliability.
More than just predictive analytics, Operational Transformation looks to leverage digital technology, culture and process change to improve and drive efficiencies in industrial operations.
In the power industry, this means looking to your people, processes and technology, and adjusting accordingly to meet new power generation demands.
Industrial change aside, there have been drivers for Operational Transformation that have been heightened in the push for renewable generation:
Power generation businesses rely on a range of best-of-breed systems to make critical business decisions. However, many of these systems aren’t integrated meaning they require additional time and internal resources to get an accurate read of plant operations.
The majority of plants continue to operate using Excel spreadsheets and unsupported databases, implemented via evolution. However, as plants become further reliant on technology, the risk of maintaining operations using these legacy systems is high.
Most plants have many long-service staff present since opening. As workers look to retire, it is important to capture and embed this knowledge in next-generation systems.
In today’s market, data-driven decisions are critical to business success, yet having data across disparate systems magnifies the effort required to respond to situations quickly. In many cases, decisions are made on gut feeling and opinion, rather than supported by data.
Once the temporary override is removed, the override or bridge can be closed. To signify the closure of the override or bridge, you should update records, communicate outcomes, and archive documentation.
Shift log visibility is critical to maintaining and providing situational awareness. For many plants, shift handover is often handled through Excel spreadsheets, Access databases, or even, paper. The lack of connected systems (or systems at all) can make historic visibility and analysis difficult, resulting in reduced situational awareness.
Understanding how different shifts operate is vital to improving plant productivity. However, when information is spread across different systems it’s difficult to objectively identify where the gaps are.
As power generation companies move towards a more digitally advanced infrastructure, the pressure for those who haven’t has grown immensely. Soon, digital laggards will struggle to remain competitive against their digitally advanced competitors.
The power industry is at the crux of change. It’s now more important than ever for power generation companies to understand the value of Operational Transformation and how it can apply to your company’s operations.
Asset Intellect brings together disparate data systems to provide a clear, concise, and customizable view of critical operational and business data – enhancing situational awareness for operators and decision-makers. with sources such as SQL, SharePoint APIs, SAP/Maximo, and Power BI. Integration with sources such as SQL, SharePoint APIs, SAP/Maximo, and Power BI, ensures that knowledge transfer remains within the company. The alarm management module brings together your alarm data in a single pane, providing real-time receive emails, notifications, and events. As a browser-based platform, Asset Intellect is accessible via mobile, tablets, or monitors with ease, ensuring dashboards and data are updated in real-time for improved efficiency.
Feeling social? Share this blog with your audience.
Indonesia
Relogica brings extensive experience in supporting leading organizations across Indonesia’s critical capital-intensive sectors, including oil and gas, mining, petrochemicals, process industries, and power generation.
Their deep understanding of the unique challenges within these industries enables them to deliver precise, high-impact solutions that drive operational excellence and business growth.
Middle East, Africa, North America and Philippines
TeQnovation offers an independent, non-biased consulting and engineering service based on our extensive SCADA experience combined with in-depth knowledge of industrial information technology.
Our Mission is to be the best in class for Wonderware/AVEVA System Platform implementations by delivering specialized services, consultancy and deep-dive Wonderware knowledge.
India
Canada & USA
Tarco is a boutique consulting firm that offers full scope automation, digital solutions, engineering, and field services. Our Intelligent Execution and motiv® platforms leverage the knowledge and processes that we’ve developed over decades and thousands of projects to optimize project execution and save our customers time and money.
We’ve built our business on becoming a trusted advisor and long-term partner.
NZ, AU
Safety Solutions is a Process Safety Consulting and Training Company located across several offices in Australia and New Zealand. They have a team of consultants and engineers who support organizations with the risk management of their hazardous facilities through the execution of safety assessments, safety management system support and competence development.
Safety Assessments – This includes some of the following activities for either small changes or the entire facility.
www.safetysolutions.co.nz/consulting
Safety Management System Support – Development of Safety Management Systems, procedures or conducting an audit on a specific element.
Competence Development – Safety Solutions is Australasia’s largest process safety training organization, with a large portfolio of training courses which can be delivered
face to face, online or on-demand. Their courses cover Hazard Identification
(HAZOP or HAZID), Risk Assessment (Bowties or LOPA), Process Safety training
and Engineering Safety Courses such as alarm management or hazardous area
classification.
Face to Face training
www.safetysolutions.co.nz/training
On-demand training
www.processsafetylms.com/courses
They also offer bespoke training development or mentoring programs around the above
courses.
Italy, India & USA
E-matica is a company specialized in digital solutions for real-time industrial data management. It operates in various sectors, including pharmaceutical, chemical, oil and gas, food, engineering, energy and utilities.
E-matica offers a wide range of services, including consulting, system integration, software configuration and development, data analysis and visualization, and IT system validation and maintenance.
The company excels in applying the latest technologies for IIoT, cloud and mobile applications to improve operational processes and the lifecycle of corporate assets.
Texas
Monico specializes in industrial communications including industrial protocol translation, conversion, capture, transmission, visualization, and remote condition monitoring; leveraging the power of advanced predictive analytics for assisting maintenance, operations and reliability.
Monico is recognized worldwide for providing superior communications products and technical assistance across the industrial marketplace.
United Kingdom
Capula, a leading systems integrator, has delivered automation control, panel build, cyber security, digitalisation and industrial operational technology (OT) programmes for asset and energy intensive clients for over 50 years.
We ensure the integrity, safety and security of complex solutions across the industrial landscape responding to the challenges you face today and will face in the future.
Australia
Visione Group is your strategic partner for the innovative realization of information and operational technology capabilities.
Their aim is to maximize the value of all data within any organization to yield efficiency gains, improve productivity and increase performance.
Visione Group offers consulting services, systems integration and research to help your organization on it’s transformative journey.
Norway
NodeIT is a Nordic technology and consulting company providing end-to-end solutions to bridge your OT/IT environment and transform process data into operational intelligence.
As an AVEVA System Integrator, NodeIT helps you successfully plan, deploy, operate, and maximize the utilization of your Operations Data Management Software and Solutions to drive sustainable industrial growth.
United Kingdom
ITI Group develops and integrates digital transformation solutions for Energy, Nuclear and Industrial manufacturing sectors.
ITI Group advances safe, secure, and sustainable operations through the innovative use of technology, and at the heart of ITI is a complete commitment to innovation and transformation.
United States
Industrial Insight specializes in helping industrial and manufacturing organizations turn their data into actionable information.
Their mission is to empower their clients to achieve tangible results and make their work more fulfilling and impactful for their respective organizations. They work collaboratively with their clients to transform data into meaningful insights that can drive real-world outcomes.
The Philippines
Calibr8 Systems focuses on providing first-rate services and systems integration for the AVEVA PI System and other complementing solutions to enhance and address its customers’ data infrastructure requirements.
Calibr8 Systems provides an end-to-end solution for IT-OT convergence so that businesses can realize the maximum output of their production by analyzing the data, and providing the right information to the right user – in real-time, anywhere, and on any device.
Chile
Synergistics Digital Solutions is a Chile-based company delivering IT solutions for capital-intensive operations, specifically in industries such as mining, energy, and chemicals.
With more than 15 years of experience, Synergistics focuses on driving digital transformations to improve processes, reduce time, and capture value for organizations.
Germany and United States
Process Automation Solutions (PA) is an independent provider of complete automation solutions for the automotive, process, and manufacturing industries.
With headquarters in Germany, PA serves customers across various industries and is proud to deliver turnkey automation solutions that are individually designed for each project, enabling enhanced safety, cost efficiency, and information security for customers around the world.
Switzerland
ControlTech Engineering (CTE) is a leading engineering company based in Switzerland.
CTE specialize in the automation of process engineering systems through to laboratory processes as well as flexible complete IT solutions in the industrial environment of the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech and food industries.
Norway
Amitec is a Nordic software and services company that stands out in the industry for its expertise in turning both real-time and historical process data into valuable insights.
Since 1996, the company has been committed to providing its customers with innovative solutions, applications, and knowledge to bridge the gap between operational and information technology.
Sweden
Our trusted advisor for all Swedish businesses. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Australia
ATSYS is a leading Digital Systems, Process Control Systems, and Cyber Security services company. Supported by industry-leading vendor partners, ATSYS delivers inspiring solutions through the application of innovative technologies in the Energy, Infrastructure, and Mining sectors.
Country
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
