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Control rooms are the nerve center of any industrial facility, where operators monitor, control, and manage the operations. A well-designed control room can significantly enhance operational efficiency, improve safety, and lead to a happier, more productive workforce. In this blog post, we will delve into the critical aspects of control room design.   Why is…

Alarm management is a pivotal aspect of control room operations. A well-configured alarm system is an essential tool that assists operators in monitoring system states, identifying unusual conditions, and taking swift, informed action. In this blog post, we will delve into the critical impact of alarm management on a control room operator’s ability to detect,…

At the heart of every efficient control room lies a well-trained, competent, and sufficient operator staff. Ensuring you have the right number of operators at the right time is not just about meeting regulatory requirements, it’s also about ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of your facility. This is where Operator Staffing Studies come into…

ACRNA 2023 Conference: Brisbane, Australia Meeting the needs of future control rooms In 2023 we will be back in Brisbane with many opportunities to visit new control rooms, and to revisit some of our colleagues from 2016 to see the transitions they have made and to consider our own strategies, preparedness, planning and foresight. The…

Control rooms play a vital role in the seamless operation of industrial facilities, power plants, and other critical environments. They serve as the hub for monitoring, controlling, and managing complex processes, making it essential to design them with efficiency, ergonomics, and safety in mind. In this post, we will discuss the key considerations for control…

What are High-Performance Displays? High-performance displays are an essential component of modern control rooms. They provide operators with clear, concise, and easily understandable information about the processes they’re monitoring. These displays are designed to reduce cognitive workload, increase situational awareness, and ultimately, improve the overall performance of your control room. There are two primary levels…

Alarm management is an essential aspect of any industrial control system. From small-scale facilities to large manufacturing plants, alarms play a crucial role in maintaining safety and efficiency. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of alarm management, best practices, and steps to improve your alarm system.   Why is Alarm Management Important?…

Shift work. It’s a given in virtually every work schedule of the process-based industry.  LED (light-emitting diode) lighting has gained traction as the status quo due to its energy efficiency and longevity.  However, the specific characteristics of LED lighting, particularly its color temperature and blue light content, can affect the circadian rhythm and sleep patterns…

In this video, Ian discusses gap analysis. Businesses need a good philosophy before they can begin, and gap analysis can be applied in different areas. Compare what your company has with the international standards and begin to understand what the problems are, identify the gaps, and come up with a plan to fix them. The…

Best Practices and International Standards with Ian Nimmo. While no one person can define what best practices are, we can look at research from the past 30 years and find best practices. Best practices can be found in international standards, guidance documents, and communication in the industry regarding what’s not working versus what’s working very…

Operator training development with Ian Nimmo. We must identify roles and responsibilities, then put together job performance profiles. This helps us identify what skills are needed in order to do the job. Looking at every aspect of the job, we then create a program for new people coming into the industry as they progress through…

Ian Nimo discusses Work Team Design. User Centered Design Services has developed an assessment methodology that compares the current operations Work Team Design to industry Best Practices. Our review includes the Work Group Structure, the Work Group Interaction, and the Management Structure and Philosophy. Our process can be applied to current staffing at a site…

Ian Nimmo discusses control room high-performance HMI. Most people only use HMI, resulting in over-using colors, glaring screens, and information being displayed incorrectly. Our retention is focused on how an operator detects a problem. We want to be able to detect the moment we leave normal operation. We need to define what is off normal,…

Ian Nimmo discusses Abnormal Situation Management. From a production perspective, how do we keep processes within normal operating limits and how do we determine normal operations? Abnormal situation management is when a process begins to function outside those limits, and an operator must step in to help the automation system. Today, HMI tools are needed…

Ian Nimmo discusses how workload staffing studies are becoming increasingly important in the industry and looks at the economics of business models post COVID. In the past, time and motion studies were used to analyze staff efficiency, but that no longer works. After gathering this information, we can get a good understanding of the operator’s…

Ian discusses situational awareness. Most people believe situational awareness is knowing what is going on around you at all times. But there’s more to it. It’s knowing what was going on around you 30 minutes ago, what happens 30 minutes from now, etc. This gives the operator the complete picture. A control room provides a…

Management of Organizational Change with Ian Nimmo Management of Organizational Change (MOC) has been a challenge in today’s workplace and has been a major contributor to most accidents. However, the United States Regulator OSHA has issued a Process Safety Management requirement and spelled out what is expected of industry and how to comply. Many companies…

  President and CEO of UCDS Ian Nimmo discusses the history of HMI (Human Machine Interface) Design. He explores the evolution of HMI starting back from the processing industry when operators used analog instrumentation on control panels, all the way to describe the benefits of modern HMI today. The ultimate goal of HMI today is…