Digital Technology
Building resilience with the digital twin
www.chemicalsknowledgehub.com
By Paige Marie Morse, Industry Director, Chemicals, Aspen Technology, Inc.
This article explores how plant digital twin technology can help chemicals companies drive operational resilience, manage disruption in these challenges times and prepare for the ongoing volatility expected to continue into the next year.
T
hese are truly exceptional times as we all adapt to the unprecedented health, social and economic
disruptions we are experiencing across the globe. Scroll back even a few months and it would have been all but impossible to anticipate the scale of this pandemic and its ongoing impact on all aspects of our lives.
In this unanticipated environment,
many companies are finding that their agility is being tested to its limits — how effectively can they respond to huge shifts in demand, supply, working environment and economics? For most companies, these shocks have stretched beyond planning boundaries, and as they do, many are asking what more can be done to prepare for their effects.
Chemical companies are finding themselves right at the heart of this unforeseen storm. The need for plants to respond to vast changes in demand, supply and workforce caused by COVID-19 has left many operators re-evaluating how effectively they prepare for
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and manage severe levels of disruption. Business resilience is being critically tested, and with uncertainty in the recovery and the possibility of further waves of the virus increasing, pressures remain high. The likelihood is that extreme volatility will continue into 2021 and beyond. And with chemical plants being designated as essential industries during the crisis, solutions that address these challenges need to be found quickly.
From digital migration to digital twin Digital technologies have proven to be a critical tool for many
businesses during this time. Several chemical companies have expanded their agility by applying their digital scheduling capabilities in unique ways. Alternative scenario analysis is a clear application, integrating variable regional supplies and disparate demand segments, but some companies have creatively applied supply chain solutions to implement social distancing on the production floor. With the ability to uncover new insights, enhance visibility and provide extensive scenario analysis, digital technologies are critical for many companies during this time. But one tool that
could be particularly valuable in optimizing operations in the current environment is the digital twin, which can be used to develop operational excellence. Digital technologies provide added insight on operations and capabilities of production systems, enabling greater visibility on status and integration, as well as deep exploration of alternatives to aid operational decision-making. This type of simulation is particularly valuable in the current economy, when boundaries are well beyond what common spreadsheets can handle. Simulations with broad flexibility on constraints and parameters
About the author
Paige Marie Morse, Industry Director, Chemicals at Aspen Technology, Inc. enables digital transformation progress at chemical companies worldwide. She has significant experience with leading operating companies, including Shell, Dow, Sunoco and Clariant, covering R&D, marketing, commercial and strategy roles. She holds a BA in chemistry from Kenyon College and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois.
Summer 2020
Image © Pixabay
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