Conduct of Field Operations and Operator Discipline System

Field Operations Culture 360

Field operators and field operations in general have their own culture, which can be disconnected from the control room and production goals. It’s important to ensure that field operations is aligned and in sync with operational demands. Operator’s require a formalized system with documented standards to ensure operational tasks are carried out in the best, safest, and most effective manner possible. This system will ensure all operational tasks are performed correctly with a high level of operational discipline consistent with the organization's risk tolerance.

Identifying Gaps 980

We continue to see major gaps in the control room, the field, and the maintenance management systems. We often see variances in performance between workers and poor procedure discipline. Shift handover practice is still a major contributor to fatal incidents. Conduct of Operations & Operational Discipline is a system of improving human performance to ensure that every operational task is performed correctly, every time, even when nobody is watching.

Changing the Culture 360

It is important to identify the gaps in all operational tasks to identify threats and weaknesses in operations. A Conduct of Operations and Operational Discipline system will change the culture, with an end goal to achieve Operator Excellence in the control room and the field.

Field Operations Management Systems Assessment

This is an assessment of conduct of field operations management systems, standards and the operational discipline of front line supervisors, field operators and their interface with support groups.

This product provides the customer with an honest, detailed evaluation of the status of field conduct of operations and operational discipline, and an accurate identification of all factors that are limiting field operational performance.

The data from the assessment is used by the customer to develop a risk based Conduct of Operations and Operational Discipline Improvement Strategy, based on the factors that must be improved, using the data from the assessment.

The conduct of operations and operational discipline field assessment is important because it provides a means to identify, quantify, and eliminate the factors that are limiting plant field operations performance. Its focus is on management systems, operational standards and the performance of front line supervisors, field operators and the interface with control room operators. Eliminating the gaps will improve and sustain safety, reliability, product quality and profitability of the clients production operations.

The assessment process consists of the following phases:

Problem Identification

This is one-day problem identification meeting with plant management. It also includes a plant tour of field and control room operations. This is a very important meeting in that the assessment is based on the perceived problems the customer wants to solve. This meeting is also used to engage the plant management team in the assessment process and developing solutions to solving the problem.

Planning and Scheduling the Assessment

This is a one-day meeting with the customer’s project manager to develop a data collection plan for the assessment. The plan will include: Elements to be assessed, Employees to be interviewed, Documents to be reviewed, Operations to be observed, & Discussions with support groups This meeting will result in a Data Collection Plan for the assessment and by the plant leadership team.

This meeting will result in a Data Collection Plan for the assessment and by the plant leadership team.

Organizational

Strategic Direction
Organization Structure
Reporting Relationships
Workforce Demographics
Daily Management Meetings

Safety

Process Safety Management
Personal Safety Management
Behavior Based Safety Management

General Activities

Shift Routines and Operating Practices
Field Activities
Control Room Activities

Communications

Notifications Practices
Communication Oral
Communications Written
Communications Electronic

Performance

Front Line Supervisor Job Profiles
Process Controller Job Profiles
Field Operator Job Profiles
Hiring and Selection Management System
Training Management System
Performance Management System
Performance Support Systems
Support Group Interface

COO Site Standards (Documents)

Lock out and Tag out
Independent Verifications
Log Keeping
Turnover and Assumption of Responsibilities
Control of Interrelated Processes
Required Readings
Timely Order to Operators
Operating Procedures
Operator Aids
Component Labeling

Operational Discipline Tasks/Behaviors

Discipline Shift Change
Disciplined Operator Rounds
Equipment Care and Condition Monitoring
Adequate Communications
Field Time

Current Culture

Values
Beliefs
Behavioral Norms

For more information contact SMaddox@mycontrolroom.com