June 16, 2010 – Honeywell released Field Advisor to help industrial facilities keep their equipment running within safe operating limits and at optimum performance. Based on technology acquired from Shell Global Solutions in December 2009, the Field Advisor software helps plants to reduce costly emergency work and unplanned shutdowns by allowing mobile operators to more easily rectify problems in the field before they escalate and result in equipment failure.The technology improves overall plant reliability by recording critical asset data and ensuring it falls within safe operating limits.
If the equipment is operating outside the plant’s set limits, Field Advisor then guides the operator through the necessary steps to correct the problem.The Field Advisor software is used in conjunction with Honeywell’s OneWireless mesh network, as well as the company’s Dolphin mobile computer devices. The solution allows the field worker to easily download specific tasks and instructions, and then upload results for easy reporting after the tasks are completed. This allows the field operators to adhere to best practices when conducting their rounds. It also helps plant maintenance, operations, and reliability teams share information between them more quickly, supervisors plan shift workloads more effectively, and allows new operators to be trained at a faster pace.
“Companies are under intense pressure to operate and maintain their plants within a budget, which really amplifies the importance of the operator’s actions in the field,” said Paul Brice, director of advanced solutions, Honeywell Process Solutions. “When an asset exceeds critical (operating) limits, the appropriate actions are not always apparent to the operator and the wrong decision could have a wide range of consequences. Field Advisor ensures the operator considers operating limits up front, which can improve overall production.” “Operational excellence is under heavy scrutiny today, so tools that help plant or mill personnel take the right actions at the right times are providing greater value than ever,” Brice said.
“By extending equipment life, tools like Field Advisor ultimately improve the overall plant operations and contribute to increasing bottom line results.”Honeywell International is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges.
Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry.