Industrial sites have long been engaged in implementing the latest technologies, and from imagining the future to protecting assets and everything in between, industry is seeking to increase new technology adoption at a breakneck speed.
Technological disruption is happening all around us and AI is being implemented at a rapid pace. Companies should develop an AI strategy because if they aren’t, their competitors are. Yet, implementing the latest technologies comes with the latest security concerns and having a virtual cybersecurity information security officer has become more important since technology threats have become a business and a safety problem. As an example, Rubicon leverages IT to protect operating technologies while allowing remote access safely.
Shell’s experts are implementing new methods to clean data and leverage asset information management systems in its digitization journey. AIM provides the necessary infrastructure to manage and utilize asset data effectively. AI tools are being implemented for equipment failure classification, and their intelligent automation drastically cuts the time and effort to analyze data, resulting in improved business decisions and more efficient resource allocation.
At BASF, AI-powered knowledge management is transforming data into insights with open-source tools for digitalization. They have developed intuitive visual management tool dashboards to onboard new engineers and transfer knowledge from highly experienced PhD chemists. BASF is also using advanced mobile robotics to use drones for autonomous monitoring and detection of leaks, fires, reading labels, inventory management for railcars and monthly closeout automation.
ExxonMobil is moving to a more visual way of working through its digital reality ecosystem, which provides visual data/video with stored 2D/3D images/models. Immersive technology is driving efficiencies for job-critical learning by accelerating time-to-proficiency, retention of lessons and quantitative safety measures. ExxonMobil invites industry to bring action with the ARC Advisory Group and take this survey at arcweb.com/advisory-services-manufacturing-industrial-city-executives. They also found that the top barriers to implementing digital twin technologies are cost, lack of expertise, poor and inaccurate data quality and interoperability between models. A digital twin capabilities toolkit is available at digitaltwinconsortium.org/initiatives/capabilities-periodic-table.
Mobideo implements applications of AI in shutdowns, turnarounds and outage events at Delek U.S., as an example. Mobideo improved the timeliness and quality of field data and delivered more value to existing systems of record with the seamless transfer of data to existing systems of record.
Enhancing construction and turnaround efficiency with mainstream technology at Shell found that most rework is caused by information getting lost in the transition from digital to analog to digital. Dispel integrated the contractor quality control and the plant’s quality assurance functions from manual work activities to provide real-time oversight of quality, progress and performance for electrical, mechanical and structural connections. The Louisiana Additive Manufacturing Association is building a new Center of Excellence at LSU. ExxonMobil has donated a building and encourages industry to invest in and access the 3D printing services. The immense progress and abilities of additive manufacturing are gaining momentum.
IBM is building a technology corridor in Louisiana that they call the Silicon Bayou, and Baton Rouge is the place where huge innovation is happening. One example of AI use and the need for quantum computing by ExxonMobil’s worldwide shipping logistics can be viewed at ibm.com/case-studies/exxonmobil. AI and quantum computing capabilities will be widely available by 2029. To learn more about quantum computing, get the book "The Quantum Decade, a playbook for awareness, readiness and advantage: Fourth Edition" by IBM.
The race is on to see who can gain the next competitive advantage by improving efficiency, lowering costs, improving customer responses or delivering faster. Are you ready?
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