Invensys targets performance of ageing plant

Houston, Texas – Invensys Operations Management has unveiled a programme to help companies modernise and improve the performance of their ageing control systems and other plant assets.

The programme guides clients in justifying modernisation costs, reducing risk, deploying advanced technology and approaching plant upgrades strategically and systematically.

“Today’s manufacturers are facing new, more complicated challenges, even as their equipment and workforce continue to age,” said Dave Gaertner, global consulting director, Invensys Operations Management.

“In order to comply with increasingly complex regulatory guidelines, reduce downtime and maintain safe, environmentally friendly operations, many companies are seeking to modernise their plants with a holistic view of their business requirements instead of making like-for-like equipment replacements.

“Taking advantage of their existing assets, modernisation allows companies to link their business and production processes; remove traditional barriers to collaboration; and empower their most valuable resource— their people.”

According to Gaertner, this approach can provide a clear and cost-effective way to improve plant efficiencies, increase production rates and sustain profitability.

Under the programme, Invensys will deliver consulting; project management; engineering; installation and maintenance services; and products and solutions that minimise the risk of operating obsolete technologies.

The company says its hardware and software offerings address all operational areas of the plant, including instrumentation, I/O and HMI, safety and critical control systems, turbo machinery assets, process safety lifecycle components, cyber security systems and other cross-enterprise assets.

“Modernising existing assets to meet today’s new business challenges has many, many benefits,” Gaertner said. “A full-scope modernisation program can help reduce total cost of ownership; increase production rates; meet regulatory guidelines and manage risks; extend the life and performance of their systems; and improve response to changing business demand.”

For companies that know they need to modernise existing assets, but do not know where to begin, Invensys starts with an assessment to understand the company’s business initiatives and issues.

The input received is then used to develop a long-range strategic plan that meets the plant’s business and technology needs. As part of the assessment, Invensys also helps clients establish return-on-investment targets.

“Invensys consultants carefully reviewed our issues and the results we wanted to achieve, then they quantified them based on information such as replacement power costs and other forms of ROI,” said Mike Hull, a computer controls supervisor at Arizona-based Salt River Project, the third-largest public power utility in the US.

“Furthermore, Invensys evaluated which of their products and services could address these issues and achieve our desired results. [The] modernisation program is a game-changer in the industry.”