The importance of reviewing our activities is my offering for today.

As commissioning planning develops, systems are identified, perhaps roles and responsibilities also and a plan is put together initially at a level 2 stage incorporating the systems, the links they have with each other and the flow of what system will be required first and what last. These activities initially will be undertaken by the early members of the commissioning team, depending on the size of the project even  solely the commissioning manager, but when the time is right this early work needs to be sanity checked.

Therefore when sufficient detail and preparation has been done, process engineers, perhaps operations personnel in the event of an addition to an existing plant that is being expanded, need to be pulled together to check the work of the commissioning team. A review should be made that the system breakdown appears correct, the schedule links and potentially durations are acceptable and the flow of systems in the overall commissioning sequence is correct.

This type of sanity review is a good idea if the commissioning schedule is then to be incorporated within a master overall project plan.

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…

It is with a heavy heart that I make my report today, for the unthinkable has happened, the shutdown of one of my former commissioned plants.

I look back fondly to the birth of the plant, the excitement, the expectation, for sure yes the hard work and long hours, but the eventual satisfaction of getting her started up and sending that first tanker out of in-specification product through the works gates, on one of the most state of the art operating plants in the world at that time.

I owe much to that experience. It was the first time I had commissioned modules, I was formally educated on why a systemized approach is so worthwhile, it enabled me to learn just how important structured and detailed paperwork preparation was and I learnt how to deal with all manner of different folks from different cultures and disciplines.

To think some 25 years later due not so much to the actual physical state of the asset, but more from a business perspective she is no longer viable, is a stark reminder of the climate we now operate in.

My thoughts go out to my friends and former colleagues who find themselves now out of work, your loss truly and dramatically heralds an end to an era. For its moment in time, this plant was one of the most important chemical producing assets in the world.

Thanks for the great memories…

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…

An interesting topic today concerned with readiness for commissioning.

In all countries of the world, certain assurances must be made to state the plant is ready for operation and start up. Back in the former years of my career and no doubt still where companies have been touched by the hands and policies of ICI, a Hazard study 4 and 5 process plus an Authorization to Introduce Process Chemicals protocol had to be followed and completed. In many other parts of the world start-up is preceded by the completion of a Pre Startup Safety Review process, they all meet the same ends.

Building on that Commissioning Managers and Engineers are charged with the responsibility to ensure prior to the commissioning window also, that some formal, fully transparent process is put in place to demonstrate that the systems are ready to be commissioned, which means for the first time, energization will take place, I strongly advise a robust process be in place at this key step also.

Whilst on the subject, let us not forget the importance of regulatory readiness, please ensure all authorities have blessed the commissioning process and all permits, and authorisations are in place from the regulatory bodies, inside or out of national and local governments.

A sobering message today, but a very important one.

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…

I am passionate about my work.

I love being able to share my experience on commissioning with the community worldwide who are in any way involved with commissioning and it is my desire to help them accomplish their commissioning goals and aims. For those of you who have visited my main website you will have read my WHY;  I passionately believe that every processing plant can be started-up safely, efficiently, effectively and on time. My driving ambition is to help as many people, projects and companies as is possible, turn my belief into an everyday reality. This WHY, this goal, is why I wrote my book, to help individuals attain commissioning success.

Commissioning can be a tough life (although few professions can give no greater job satisfaction) but in the throes of complicated projects as is mine at present, there suddenly comes along a ray of sunshine which makes all the effort worthwhile, I recently received such a ray of sunshine that I wish to share.

My book (on Amazon) recently received the following review:

“Excellent reference book that is used daily by myself and the people I work with. Well worth the investment to have in the facility.”

A few short but highly meaningful and personally inspiring words, which brings my WHY into perspective and gives me the motivation to carry on.

Thank-you so much Sir for the motivation, I will keep your identity secret just in case…

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…

Today I had a new commissioning experience and that is a good thing for a crusty old commissioning guy such as I!

It was the start today of a number of commissioning risk reviews to ensure that all mitigating steps through the current phase of our project are being addressed, the reviews will be in line with the deliverables for our current project status. Whilst I am familiar with commissioning being addressed in the overall risk profile of a project and certainly I am familiar with the risk assessments for our actual commissioning activities, today was the first time I sat through a process that appraised the commissioning state early in a projects life.

Encompassing Operational experience also, we reviewed threats and opportunities to the team we will gather, the budget we will manage our overall strategy and interface management. The outcome highlighted very well the implications we face as a project and the areas that prior to this exercise may have been neglected.

A very worthwhile experience and very beneficial.

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…

Well apologies gentle reader are due again, my prediction of two weeks radio silence came to pass.

An interesting two weeks, spent mostly at P&ID review meetings at one of our projects design headquarters. The usual difficult start where everyone learns the rules, tests the boundaries of the review process and asks the general questions that we then put behind us but clarification is gained. After the first difficult couple of days the progress stepped up a gear. Commissioning related questions were generally infrequent and in general the design was very good. I find this type of meeting frustrating as at times issues are found, but instead of documenting the point and moving on, the group gets their design head on and progress slows, a point to always bear in mind…

Back in the swing of things now so stand by for more commissioning tales.

Safe and successful commissioning to you always…