Articles
Operations Management: Choose An Alarm Champion
Plant operators should be able to rely on process alarms to provide essential information for running their units safely and steering them efficiently through critical operations such as start-ups or upsets.
Operations Management: Choose An Alarm Champion
Six Sigma Methods Bring Order to Alarm Chaos at Monsanto’s Soda Springs, Id., Phosphorus Plant
How to analyze the present state and how to improve the situation were the biggest for the Monsanto plant. The answer to both was the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology model of the Six Sigma process. After two years of work. Monsanto arrived at a firm alarm philosophy and had corporate-wide standards for analysis, improvement and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Six Sigma Alarm Managemen
Videos
Alarm Management Intelligence: Special Report
Alarm management issues are at the core of many dangerous events and accidents. Control Global readers respond with plans, beliefs and attitudes about the value of alarm management projects and processes.
Alarm Management Intelligence: Special Report
Back to Basics: Managing Alarms
Control Global Editor in Chief Walt Boyes talks about effective alarm management processes. The switch of alarm management systems from panel walls to display screens and DCSs resulted in system operators' loss of visual pattern recognition. Meanwhile lack of careful alarm rationalization causes them to be inundated with too many alarms, making it impossible to respond to the important ones.
Back to Basics: Managing Alarms
New Book
Alarm Management for Process Control
Doug Rothenberg of DRoth Incorporated introduces and discusses his new book Alarm Management for Process Control: A Best-Practice Guide for Design, Implementation, and Use of Industrial Alarm Systems
Alarm Management for Process Control
Tutorials
LogMate Demonstration
LogMate is the full-featured alarm management software that makes managing DCS and SCADA alarms easy. The intuitive interface, point-and-click navigation, and thin-client accessibility allow users to quickly get up and running. Built on tested Microsoft® technologies, LogMate has superior features, speed and stability, and extremely low total cost of ownership.
Tutorial: LogMate Demonstration
High-Performance HMI Design
Presented by Ian Nimmo of User Centered Design Services (UCDS), this tutorial presents key elements to properly designed HMIs and provides the tools for assessment, justification and planning of a high performance HMI solution.
Tutorial: High-Performance HMI Design
Enhancing Situation Awareness in the Control Room
Presented by Ian Nimmo of User Centered Design Services (UCDS), this tutorial presents key elements to achieving situation awareness in the control room.
Tutorial: Enhancing Situation Awareness in the Control Room
How to Achieve Dynamic Alarming
Dynamic alarming is the automatic modification of alarms based on process state or conditions. This tutorial provides an overview of advanced methods when basic alarm designs do not achieve the performance goals stated in the alarm philosophy.
Tutorial: How to Achieve Dynamic Alarming
Articles
White Paper: Application of PHMSA Rule, Control Room Management/Human Factors
Kelly Doran - Product Manager, Telvent
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) made effective the final rule: 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 Pipeline Safety: Control Room Management/Human Factors as of February 1, 2010. The White Paper: Application of PHMSA Rule, Control Room Management/Human Factors provides a summary of the ruling with an emphasis on the regulatory requirements that Control Room Management (CRM) plans must address. Alarm Management is a key component of the rule, and this White Paper discusses best practices based on the AGA’s Alarm Management for Control Room Operations in the Natural Gas Industry and the soon to be released API Recommended Practice 1167 Pipeline Alarm Management.
SIX SIGMA ALARM MANAGEMENT
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
180k PDF
The Control article "Six Sigma Alarm Management" highlights an end user's experience applying Six Sigma practices to their alarm management effort. This white paper by TiPS, explores why Six Sigma is such a good companion for an alarm management program and outlines various ways Six Sigma can be incorporated into the alarm management workflow.
Six Sigma Alarm Management
A FRESH LOOK AT ALARM PERFORMANCE METRICS
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
710k PDF
Explains the basis for the most common type of alarm performance metric and introduces two different approaches for measuring the effectiveness of process alarms.
A Fresh Look at Alarm Performance Metrics
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO ALARM MANAGEMENT-PART 1
Crawling Your Way Into Alarm Management
Steve Apple - TiPS, Incorporated
2.1MB PDF
Alarm management and rationalization of alarms is not complex. It requires no proprietary algorithms or special education. It is structured application of basic operations skills. The reason alarms have become a problem is because we never stopped to ask, "Why?" Why do we need to add this alarm? Why here? Why set this way? Why don't you react to this alarm? Why is it so active? Why does it stay on for two days? Why do we need so many alarms in the configuration? Is there a shortcoming or problem somewhere else creating the need for this alarm? (hint, hint).
A Practical Approach to Alarm Management
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO ALARM MANAGEMENT-PART 2
Rationalization Based on Need and Risk
Steve Apple - TiPS, Incorporated
221k PDF
Following a nuisance reduction, you will have some of the pieces
in place that make it possible to consider a more formal rationalization.
You’ve actually begun going through the motions of a formal
rationalization during the nuisance reduction. Perhaps it is time
to take the next step.
Rationalization Based on Need and Risk
ABNORMAL SITUATION AWARENESS
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design
Services
824k PDF
Abnormal Situation Awareness, the Need for Good Situation Awareness,
a paper presented by Ian Nimmo, September of 2004 at the symposium
“Advances in Process Control 7”. The paper discusses strategies
to help operators maintain a high level of situation awareness i.e.,
an accurate perception of the current condition of the process and
equipment, and accurate understanding of the meaning of key performance
indicators.
Abnormal Situation Awareness
ALARMS AND SITUATION AWARENESS
Chris Wilson - TiPS Incorporated
HTML
A brief article about the core function of alarms and how alarm management improves operations by improving the performance of an alarm system.
Alarms and Situation Awareness
ALARM MANAGEMENT AND GRAPHICS PROJECTS
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
159k PDF
Alarm Management & Graphics Projects is a longer and more detailed
version of the Alarm Overload paper, written by Ian Nimmo discussing
the benefits of Alarm Management and Graphics Projects i.e., focusing
on life-cycle characteristics and transitioning to maintaining good
alarm management practices, and best practices design methodology
on how to approach graphics development.
Alarm Management and Graphics Projects
ALARM MANAGEMENT IMPROVES PLANT OPERATIONS
Dan Hebert - Control Magazine
HTML
Alarm management is a hot topic, perhaps because incorrect presentation of alarms often confuses operators. This article shows how better alarm management empowers operators to improve plant performance.
Alarm Management Improves Plant Operations
ALARM MANAGEMENT FOR REGULATED INDUSTRIES
Joseph S. Alford, John Kindervater, Robert Stankovich for CEP Magazine
194k PDF
This article focuses on the regulatory drivers for alarm management, summarizes some key beset practices and challenges automation vendors on what they might do to help their customers implement more-effective alarm systems.
You must register on the website to access this article.
Alarm Management for Regulated Industries
ALARM RATIONALIZATION QUALITY ASSURANCE GUIDE
Chris Wilson, TiPS, Incorporated
58k PDF
An explanation of the data and operating information developed during
an alarm rationalization and a framework for ensuring a quality,
useful result, whether tackling alarm rationalization internally
or hiring resources to help.
Alarm Rationalization Quality Assurance Guide
A companion spreadsheet is available that provides a ready-made
documentation template.
Get the companion spreadsheet
AN ALARMING SITUATION
Dan Hebert - Control Global
HTML
Alarm systems of one type or another always have been part of industrial machine, robot, and skid control systems, but CONTROL Senior Technical Editor Dan Hebert, PE, notes that there's more to alarm technology than meets the eye ... or ear for that matter.
An Alarming Situation
BOUNDED VS UNBOUNDED RATIONALIZATION
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
115k PDF
There was a time when industry in general felt that alarm rationalization
was essentially "all or none". Unless the entire system had been
rationalized you had not rationalized anything at all. As more experiential
data has been gathered, the concept of rationalization has changed.
The activity of rationalizing - reviewing and redesigning an alarm -
is now independent from the concept of a rationalized alarm system.
Bounded vs Unbounded Rationalization
DESIGNING A CONTROL BUILDING
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
252k PDF
Designing a control building written by Ian Nimmo, published by Hydrocarbon Engineering, 2002, discusses major aspects to designing a new control building i.e., building location, standards, selecting an architecture firm, building company, console layout and ergonomic considerations, people changes and management of change.
Designing a Control Building
DESIGNING CONTROL ROOMS FOR HUMANS
Ian Nimmo, John Moscatelli- User Centered Design Services
419k PDF
Designing Control Rooms for Humans, written by Ian Nimmo and John Moscatelli, published in Control Magazine, July 2004 discusses today’s work environment and how it has been revolutionized by PC’s and PC workstations.
Designing Control Rooms for Humans
DON’T BE THROWN FOR A LOOP
Ian Nimmo, John Moscatelli- User Centered Design Services
34k PDF
Don’t be thrown for a loop is an article written by Ian Nimmo and John Moscatelli, describing impacts on a console operator’s workload which is scheduled for publication in the July issue of Chemical Processing. This paper recommends the best methodology and operating procedures for determining proper staffing levels based on job complexity, loop count, process disturbances, and graphics.
Don't Be Thrown for a Loop
DYNAMIC ALARMING REALITY
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
HTML
Many people incorrectly interpret "dynamic alarming" as an easy fix for too many alarms. At face value it's a very attractive concept - Just
put a big blanket on top of all that mess and the blanket will be smart enough to let the important stuff through.
That's a really neat concept, but look under the hood and you'll find that the time and labor required to successfully implement dynamic
alarming are higher than you might have expected. You'll also find that some of the engineering required to is exactly the same as you
thought you would avoid.
Dynamic Alarming Reality
EFFECTIVE SHIFT HANDOVER IS NO ACCIDENT
Ian Nimmo- User Centered Design Services
146k PDF
Effective Shift Handover is No Accident was published in the June
2006 issue of Chemical Processing. A successful handover between
shifts heavily depends on the organizational skills of management
and the effective use of the communication tools available. Learn
what these tools are and get the most out of your operators.
Effective Shift Handover is No Accident
GROWING OLD TOGETHER
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
5.7m PDF
Operator Consoles:Growing Old Together written by Ian Nimmo, published Hydrocarbon Engineering January 2005 discusses refurbishment projects and best methodologies and standards for making the changes such as Study of Management Systems, i.e., people and performance systems; Ergonomic Design of Operating desks or Consoles; Human Computer Interface, Alarm Management, and Design of Control Rooms.
Growing Old Together
HUMAN FACTORS IN ALARM MANAGEMENT
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
156k PDF
It’s time to consider Human Factors in Alarm Management was written by Ian Nimmo, published in CEP magazine November 2002, discusses implementing procedures to consider human factors, not simply human error, in control room architecture and reducing the chance of incidents in plants.
Human Factors in Alarm Management
HOW TO PERFORM AN ALARM RATIONALIZATION
William L. Mostia Jr. for Control Global
HTML
If you don’t deal with your computer-based control alarms in a disciplined manner, uncontrolled alarm growth can result, which can lead to out-of-control alarm systems. Find out what the top 10 reasons are for rationalizing your alarm management system.
How to Perform an Alarm Rationalization
THE MANAGEMENT OF ALARM SYSTEMS
Bransby Automation, Ltd. and Tekton Engineering for the UK Health and Safety Executive
1.7m PDF
The Management of Alarm Systems was originally published in 1998. It was a contract research project carried out by Bransby Automation, Ltd to determine current best practice in the chemical and power industries on the procurement, design and management of alarm systems.
The Management of Alarm Systems
MANDATED HUMAN ERROR CONTROLS IN THE USA
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
129k PDF
Mandated Human Error Controls in the USA, written by Ian Nimmo, published August 2001, discusses a new approach to safety breaking the traditional barriers of people, organizations and culture, and puts control engineer back in the driving seat for determining performance improvements, optimizing control algorithms, people, and the way they interface with technology.
Mandated Human Error Controls in the USA
THE OPERATOR AS IPL
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
198k PDF
The Operator as IPL is a challenging article written by Ian Nimmo
that seeks to establish the operator as an integral part of a safety
design, or at least considered during the process of designing a
safety system.
The Operator as IPL
OPERATOR SITUATION AWARENESS AND ALARM MANAGEMENT
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
6.5Mb PDF
Operator Situation Awareness and Alarm Management is the slide show used to punctuate a presentation about the proper strategic position of the alarm system as well as the radical difference good graphic and control room design have on superior plant operations. It's a large download, but it's worth it.
Operator Situation Awareness and Alarm Management
PACIFY THE FEAR OF CHANGE
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
HTML
Understanding how changing a work environment affects people can
reduce accidents. Management of Change (MOC) has been one of the
hardest of the PSM requirements for industry to master. Making matters
worse, it’s rarely applied to people and organization changes.
But there are proven approaches.
Pacify the Fear of Change
PUTTING ON A HUMAN FACE
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
79k PDF
Putting a human face on the design of Control Rooms, written by Ian Nimmo, published by Process Control Magazine, May 2004, discusses how technology has pushed Industrial processes to the limit, and why Companies should implement standards and best practices around factors such as human related incidents and Control Room Design.
Putting on a Human Face
RAISE AN ALARM ABOUT ALARMS
Mark Rosenzweig - Chemical Processing
HTML
Sure, having more alarms is a plus if they contribute to better plant operation. But nowadays, more and more plants have numerous alarms that are causing more trouble than they are worth.
The Real Cause of Alarm Problems
THE REAL CAUSE OF ALARM PROBLEMS
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
400k PDF
Alarm management is a relatively new concept in automation. Although it appears to be very straightforward -
"Got an alarm problem? Fix the alarm system." It's really not that simple. Alarms are a symptom, they're not the problem.
The Real Cause of Alarm Problems
RESCUE YOUR PLANT FROM ALARM OVERLOAD
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
259k PDF
Alarm Overload, an article published in Chemical Processing by Ian Nimmo, January 2005, discusses why most Distributed Control Systems (DCS) have more standing alarms than necessary, and how to resolve this problem. Find out how to rescue your plant from alarm overload utilizing guidelines on personnel responsibility and benchmarking system performance.
Alarm Overload
THE SAFETY ISSUES OF BATCH (AND OTHER) CONTROLS
Ian Nimmo - User Centered Design Services
311k PDF
The Safety Issues of Batch (and other) Controls written by Ian Nimmo, presented as Keynote presentation May of 2005 at the World Batch Rorum. This paper discusses a new approach to safety, breaking the traditional barriers of people, organizations and culture and puts the control engineer back in the driving seat for determining performance improvements, optimizing control algorithms, people, and the way they interface with technology.
The Safety Issues of Batch (and other) Controls
THE SCOPE OF ALARM MANAGEMENT
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
HTML
An excerpt from a more detailed white paper exploring the true upstream and downstream ramifications of alarm system change.
The Scope of Alarm Management
SIX SIGMA ALARM MANAGEMENT
(Was - "Applied Alarm Management Using a Six Sigma Approach")
Chris Wilson - TiPS, Incorporated
180k PDF
The Control article "Six Sigma Alarm Management" highlights an end user's experience applying Six Sigma practices to their alarm management effort. This white paper by TiPS, explores why Six Sigma is such a good companion for an alarm management program and outlines various ways Six Sigma can be incorporated into the alarm management workflow.
Six Sigma Alarm Management
