ISA 2012 Automation Week
Track: Human Performance
Tuesday, 25 September, 3:15-4:45 pm, Room 204A
Session Developer: Dave Adler
Good project management tools and approaches are used within the automation discipline to achieve good project results. Project success meets the expected schedule, meets the expected cost, meets requirements, is bug free during start-up, and satisfies the manufacturing facilities business leaders. Automation projects can be a challenging activity. I have found there are many ways to do automation that causes the automation team to fail to meet all of these objectives. Using project management tools and processes can improve the chances of success.
Why are automation projects so difficult? The typical automation system is complex and includes field instrumentation, software applications, and data management. It is difficult to master one component of automation technology in a lifetime much less be an expert on all the diverse technologies needed to control manufacturing facilities today. Often, the process and equipment is not well understood by operations personnel. It is very difficult to automate what you do not understand. The many technical details really do matter.
If the automation professionals miss any of the details, the system will not work. This drives the need to take a rigorous approach. To ensure nothing is missed, automation has adapted traditional project management tools and techniques to the automation discipline.
The rigorous project management approach can assure appropriate automation plans are developed and then during execution that everything is implemented to achieve a successful project. These business processes require the automation team to understand all the work processes; define upfront the key user requirements; select a robust automation technology to deliver these requirements; monitor deliverables and key project events; and value the skilled automation professionals required to execute and start-up.
Dashboard metrics, computer-aided engineering, and human factors engineering are being used by successful automation professionals to achieve outstanding projects. Dashboard metrics illustrate automation's activities and performance and are used to assess the health of the project. Dashboard metrics consist of schedule, cost, resources, scope, quality, and action items. Computer-aided engineering is the use of computer software to aid in the design and implementation of automation and encompasses code development, validation, and the required data to support the project team. Human factors engineering is the design of the overall automation systems to fit the human body and its cognitive abilities by a rigorous process to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
The systematic use of each of these proven techniques will improve automation project cost and operations management satisfaction with the delivered automation system.
