Instant access to critical tank data

Instant access to up-to-date critical tank data is vital for many stakeholders in the process and manufacturing industries. This includes operations and maintenance workers, finance departments, management and corporate level personnel, suppliers, customers, traders, product owners and logistics partners. However, the information they need to get a consolidated overview of tank status is often locked within a legacy tank inventory system that is not integrated with other control or management systems.

Although the functionality and useability of inventory management software has improved significantly over the years, the architecture has remained the same. This has limited wider access to inventory data, which is often provided only in weekly reports rather than being available on demand. Newer tank gauging inventory management systems can integrate with a plant control system and other management systems, but extensive engineering can be required to enable this.

This has led organisations to seek new solutions that provide greater interoperability and secure access to up-to-date tank data for any stakeholder that needs it. And for the new generation of operators, that data needs to support modern ways of working by being instantly available on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, whenever and wherever they require it.

The latest tank inventory management software collects real-time data, provides organisations with a clear overview of all their tanks, and enables them to easily drill down to detailed information, leading to improved decision-making and increased operational efficiency and safety. Creating additional value, mobile solutions can be provided as an add-on to desktop versions of tank inventory management software.

Information [needed] to get a consolidated overview of tank status is often locked within a legacy tank inventory system that is not integrated with other control or management systems

This enables approved users of the software to gain secure mobile access to live tank inventory data via all device types, including smartphones, tablets and computers, irrespective of brand or operating system. In this way, stakeholders can access tank data wherever they are located, and share the data both internally and externally.

Software solutions of this kind enable tanks to be organised into different customised groups – for example, based on product type or location. This allows personnel in the field to keep track of tanks more easily, thereby supporting increased efficiency. Presenting tank information on adaptive tank cards provides an immediate overview of critical inventory data and these cards can differ in size, depending on which tank parameters the user wants to display. Users can also quickly and easily create watchlist groups for specific tanks of special importance that need to be closely monitored.

Of course, when wider access to operational data is permitted, it is of the highest importance to have robust cybersecurity measures in place. For this reason, mobile inventory management software needs to be compliant with the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 62443-3-3 standard, relating to system security requirements and security levels. Measures that can be taken to help achieve compliance include basing the software on a three-tier network architecture, with dual-factor login to help ensure that only authorised users can access the system.

In addition, encrypted data communication between system components will protect against unauthorised access, whilst management systems can control access to specific tanks and data points, enabling the creation of user groups with different privileges.

Per Skogberg is tank gauging solutions manager for Emerson