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Helping operators improve plant performance
Author(s) -
Booth Susan K.,
Hagar C.B.,
Goss Randy J.,
Lippe J. Chris,
Schulze Jean A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1999.tb08633.x
Subject(s) - process (computing) , instrumentation (computer programming) , process management , accountability , operator (biology) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , water utility , engineering management , operations management , business , engineering , water supply , biochemistry , chemistry , repressor , environmental engineering , political science , transcription factor , law , gene , operating system
A process assistance system empowers operators to make decisions and take ownership of the plant during their shifts. The City of Austin (Texas) Water and Wastewater Utility consistently produces drinking water of the highest standards. But with the development of more and tougher regulations, water treatment has become more complex for operators. Utility managers recognized that although it is necessary to provide advanced computer systems, instrumentation, and traditional operations training, these elements alone are not sufficient to meet the utility's stringent internal optimization goals. Operators also need to be able to recognize and respond promptly to developing process problems. Utility managers realized that operators would benefit from readily available plant‐specific process guidance and envisioned a process assistance system (PAS). Written in Web‐page format, the PAS is designed to help operators interpret data and improve their decision‐making skills. It was developed through in‐depth investigations of operators' actions and treatment decisions during routine and nonroutine operations. The PAS will also be used as a tool for training, performance assessment, and operator accountability.