PAS Musings

Alarm Management MythBuster #4

This is the fourth and final myth in the series…

Myth #4:  Alarm Management requires endless Consulting Services

We’ve cleared up the most common myths –  about Counting Alarms, Reducing the Count and not needing a Philosophy and so now we’re at the last one (of the four most common ones anyway).

I guess this myth is propagated by vendors trying to sell their software to customers without any services.

I suppose it goes along with the other myths pretty well – but that’s about it.

While it is right to say that Consulting Services are not needed for each step of improving the performance of your alarm system, there is definite advantage to engaging an expert to help.

Involving an expert helps you get more value and get it faster.

Sure, you can develop your own philosophy, document and rationalize your own alarm system, and even set up real-time alarm functions to keep it all working right… it isn’t that difficult.

In fact, we encourage customers to could take The Workshop, read The Book, complete some basic Software Training and get started with their own Alarm Management projects.

The problem isn’t the skill required – the problem is the skills being available.

Remember, this is 2007 and there’s a huge shortage of qualified staff at most sites – probably including yours.

And that’s where the PAS Alarm Management Experts come in to help.

Our experts get the job done more effectively and efficiently than trying to find the time to do it yourself.  And the collective experience we hold from work at hundreds of sites brings real-life learnings and experiences of Alarm Management to your effort that just can’t be captured by any software.

So if you’re not sure of how much alarm management is worthwhile at your site and what effort is involved – try bringing in one of our experts to survey your site and define the benefits to your management.

Then think about what makes sense for you to do and what makes sense for the consultant to help out on.

You’ll be glad you did.

Because your management will see a faster and more solid return on investment than you’d ever achieve on your own.

And what about the myth of endless services?

Well, just ask any of our hundreds of customers – our services always end well before the return on investment does.

And that makes happy managers and satisfied shareholders.

And even happier employees!

© Copyright PAS 2007.  No part of this blog is to be copied in full or in part without the express written permission of PAS; but references and web links are more than OK!

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.