WHY ‘RUN-TO-FAIL’ IS A FALSE ECONOMY


Plant, process and production managers working across multiple industries have been warned against taking a ‘run to fail’ approach to heat exchanger maintenance following insight from a new industry whitepaper. To help support industry’s road to


recovery, Alfa Laval, has launched the whitepaper ‘Fit for Duty’ – which aims to change perceptions and behaviour relating to plate heat exchangers (PHE). According to the report, PHEs are


subject to an industry-wide misconception that they are ‘simple’ components. However, if proper servicing and maintenance are overlooked, it can allow assets to reach a state of disrepair and lead to catastrophic and complex consequences for businesses. Low energy efficiency, higher carbon emissions, danger to staff, low production yields and poor product quality are some of the main consequences. An academic report from 2015 stated that numerous studies have shown that heat exchanger fouling may be responsible for 1-2.5% of global CO2 emissions


(http://www.heatexchanger- fouling.com/proceedings15.htm). Experts at Alfa Laval say that by


taking a more proactive approach to PHEs, operators could see improvements in their energy consumption. It is also common for PHEs to be


specified years ahead of them being fully operational within a plant, and the heat demand or technology may change within that period. Mikael Hellborg, managing director


at Alfa Laval, said: “We estimate there are thousands of PHEs - of all brands and sizes - in operation that are not fully optimised and could be draining businesses unnecessarily. Further compounding the issue is the disruption caused by COVID-19 and its significant impact on supply chains, cashflows and capacities leaving many businesses without capital to upgrade existing equipment. Implementing a comprehensive service and maintenance approach could actually help circumnavigate some of these issues.” “As the world’s largest and most


responsible manufacturer of plates and gasket we need to be certain that


A HOLISTIC APPROACH


Operational Technology (OT) networks across the manufacturing industry are increasingly vulnerable to cyber- attacks as a result of ‘blind spots’ brought on by digital transformation and IIoT – a new report has warned. The report, titled Industrial


our components are optimised within our customers’ equipment. The old adage ‘greater than the sum of its parts’ could not ring truer than when referring to PHEs.” The report goes on to outline the


steps that businesses can take to implement a considered maintenance strategy and ultimately achieve many advantages. “We hope this report helps identify


why ‘run-to-fail’ is a false economy and that actually plant, process and production managers can play their part in improving operational efficiency, competitiveness and, most pertinently, changing regulations relating to net-zero goals.” To download the full report, visit: www.alfalaval.co.uk/fitforduty


WORKSAFE ANALYTICS HELP PREVENT DISRUPTION


Empiricai, a provider of Advanced Analytics for corporate and industrial customers, has launched WorkSafe Analytics to monitor and evaluate COVID safety guidelines compliance in real-time. This will help businesses mitigate risk, rather than react after infection breaks out. WorkSafe Analytics uses Computer


Vision Artificial Intelligence algorithms to deliver workplace safety insights. It provides peace of mind for employers and employees in a variety of workplaces, including manufacturing plants and construction sites. WorkSafe Analytics can be configured to monitor regulations on social distancing and occupancy as COVID risks change. In the face of heightened safety


concerns, employers want to provide their employees with a safe and productive environment while


minimising disruption to the business. Already returning businesses are dealing with spikes in infections, nervous returners and changing regulations which can affect work processes and decimate productivity. Empiricai CEO, Salman Chaudhary,


said: “At this period of economic uncertainty for the global economy, businesses need help to manage employee safety and business productivity. Unlike other ‘point’ solutions which offer limited coverage at entry points or procedural and manual checking, WorkSafe Analytics provides insights on how effective current measures are. Employers can see where they need to do more with education, awareness or physical measures to improve safety. We believe this combination of real-time monitoring and measurement of effectiveness


will bring confidence to a future of work which is safer for all.” Key Features of Empiricai’s


WorkSafe Analytics include: PPE violation detection - ensures


face masks and other Personal Protective Equipment are worn properly where and when required across the workplace. Real time social distancing and


occupancy monitoring - leveraging Computer Vision AI to provide a real- time view of social distancing and occupancy threshold violations in your workplace, with heatmaps to highlight areas of concern. Comprehensive analytics and


reporting - compliance at room, building, site-wide levels and their trends over time, allowing organisations to measure the effectiveness of their education, awareness, or physical measures. empiric.ai


Cyber Threats: Processes & Protection for Industrial Control Systems, and published by Yokogawa UK, highlights the vulnerability of OT networks in critical infrastructure and industrial applications. Donal Bourke, Manager New


Business & Advanced Solutions at Yokogawa UK & Ireland, said: “Digitalisation and the adoption of new technologies that facilitate interoperability, information flow and data insight, can create an OT ‘blind spot’ that can be exploited by state-sponsored action or by highly sophisticated lone-wolf hackers. They are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure with attacks that have the potential to disrupt the normal functioning of a society, such as power generation.” Unlike cyber-attacks on IT


systems, attacks on OT networks are of greater concern and can have much graver implications. The report highlights the fact


that OT security is in its infancy compared to IT security, and urges government and industry to take a holistic approach. Bourke added: “...The solution


lies in taking a more holistic approach that involves awareness training, risk assessments, the development of OT appropriate policies and procedures, and architecting a system which provides an organisation with a comprehensive Cyber Security Management System.” He said the report ‘...brings together all the information necessary to develop an effective OT Cyber Security Management System.’ To download a copy visit: https://info.yokogawa.eu/acton/ media/18463/industrial-cyber- threats-guide


“The original designer and manufacturer of coaxial valves with 60 years of experience”


Te


Ema : Emaill: john.osborn@coaxvalves.co.uk Web: www.co-ax.com


Tel: 01908 067583 We


6 OCTOBER 2020 | PROCESS & CONTROL


High flow, high pressure, unique valve solutions for all standard and arduous Applications”.


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