Industrial sites have long embraced cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency and imagine the future in construction, turnarounds and maintenance.
At this year’s Technical and Engineering Communities (TEC) NExT Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana industry leaders shared how they are applying the latest innovations.
Huntsman’s Rubicon site in Geismar, Louisiana, highlighted its latest hardening technologies that use IT to protect operating technologies while enabling safe remote access. Huntsman wanted to deploy vendor management at scale, so they used Dispel’s Zero Trust Engine, which easily facilitates vendor self-onboarding, session recording, disposable intermediate virtual desktop infrastructure, group-level device/port/protocol access control rules, group level access requests and access to windows, and more.
Shell in Louisiana is advancing its digitization journey by improving data quality and using asset information management systems for equipment failure classification and using intelligent automation to streamline data analysis. Maintenance leaders can now take vague failure language kept on logs and digitize them into usable data leading to faster, better business decisions and improved resource allocation.
BASF in Geismar, Louisiana, is working to deploy advanced mobile robotics and drones for autonomous leak detection, fire monitoring, label reading, railcar inventory and automation in monthly closeouts. These applications are improving warehouse operations, field responses to maintenance issues and better tracking of equipment during construction and turnarounds.
Huntsman, Shell, BASF, ExxonMobil, Delek transforming industry with new technologies
Industry leaders gathered at the TEC NExT Conference in Baton Rouge to showcase how new technologies are transforming construction, maintenance and turnaround practices across industrial sites.
ExxonMobil is transitioning to a visual, immersive way of working through its Digital Reality Ecosystem, which uses 2D/3D visuals and video for better decision-making. Their immersive training improves safety, learning retention and time-to-proficiency. For example, crane lift simulations have enabled flawlessly executed vessel placements.
Delek US uses Mobideo Technologies and shared how AI is streamlining shutdowns, turnarounds and outages by improving field data quality and integrating it into existing systems of record, driving greater operational efficiency. A control center for turnarounds with multiple screens allows construction managers oversight. One example included how AI tools predict equipment deliveries to match the project schedule.
Shell also explored how mainstream technology can boost turnaround productivity. It found that rework often stems from data loss between digital and analog transitions. Cumulus Digital Systems’ platform integrates contractor quality control with plant quality assurance, providing realtime oversight of electrical, mechanical and structural connections.
IBM is developing a tech corridor in Louisiana dubbed the "Silicon Bayou." Baton Rouge is emerging as a hub of innovation. One example is ExxonMobil’s use of AI and the future need for quantum computing in global shipping logistics, which can be viewed at ibm.com/case-studies/exxonmobil. IBM predicts that AI and quantum computing will be widely available by 2029. To be prepared for the coming age, consider reading "The Quantum Decade: A Playbook for Awareness, Readiness and Advantage" by IBM.
For more information, visit lceftoday.org.
