Alarm Management MythBuster #3

This is the third myth in a series…

Myth #3:  Alarm Management doesn’t need a Custom Philosophy!

While the first two myths address the most common misconceptions (Just Count Alarms and Just Reduce the Count), this one says I just need to get on with the work - and forget about developing my own Alarm Management Philosophy.

Where did this myth come from?

Maybe it’s the terminology. 

Do we really need a “philosophy” for managing alarms??? 

Aren’t philosophies for the HR department?  And if I tell my boss we need to develop a philosophy – or worse yet, ask to pay someone to help develop a philosophy – well, I’m likely to be sent off-site for a period of correctional training….

So maybe the word “philosophy” is part of the problem…

Maybe it should be called a STRATEGY…  After all, strategies are needed to accomplish great things, right?

So we need one. 

Whether we call it a plan, strategy, philosophy or anything else – every plant needs a set of principles and objectives that will guide the optimization and maintenance of their process alarm systems.

So, where do you get an Alarm Management Philosophy and what should it look like?

First, let’s agree that any winning strategy must be tailored to OUR NEEDS and OUR PLANT so that we can meet OUR OBJECTIVES.

So you can’t just buy one of these off the shelf or copy one out of a book. 

Some vendors will have you believe that building a philosophy is as easy as answering a few questions on their website, but we don’t recommend that.

Just as you would never build your company’s operating plan by answering a few questions at an online vendor site, you surely don’t want to build your alarm management philosophy that way either.

After all, you just get what you pay for. And if the philosophy is free, well better watch out!

So what should a proper Alarm Management Philosophy look like?

We cover that in The Alarm Management Handbook (available on Amazon.com and from the ISA), and give you clear examples of what a philosophy might look like, some starting points and lots of advice.

But to end up with the right philosophy (strategy) for your plant, YOU – the people at the plant – need to get involved and make it yours.

You can do it yourself (assuming you have the time and ability).

You can engage a consultant (like PAS).

You can get The Book from the ISA or direct from PAS.

Choose any one of these and you’ll do just fine.

Just don’t use a pre-packaged or “download now” philosophy.   Because you really do get what you pay for.

And that can make all the difference between safe operations or not.