Field Network Engineering (FNE) offered by Endress+Hauser is an integral part of plant maintenance strategy. From conceptualisation to designing a new plant, or refurbishment thereof, the use of either conventional (4-20 mA) field devices or digitally enabled equipment (HART, Profibus, Modbus etc) is debated. In most cases, conventional field devices are selected, due to the fact that most plant personnel and engineers are familiar and comfortable with them. Or, the decision is based on the amount of capital available for the project.
It benefits to know and understand the latest technology
Often the digital technology is viewed as being too complex, or the skills and expertise to install, commission and maintain it are not available. However, in the majority of operations, conventional technology is not necessarily the most appropriate or fit for purpose.
Sometimes it all comes down to the maintenance culture within the organisation. Maintenance is often viewed as a cost centre as opposed to an investment, but it is as important as the rest of the processes within an organisation. Maintenance contributes to the fundamental objective: creating profit now as well as in the future.
Investing in a field digital communication technology is the first step towards an improved maintenance strategy. Of course, the technology alone cannot form the core of a maintenance strategy, behind the technology is always the people. The human element determines the success or failure of the chosen technology and it certainly requires further investment and retention. In other words the maintenance staff will require up-skilling to benefit most from the latest technology.
Proper planning is required
The use of field digital communication technology can contribute positively to the bottom line, if planned, executed and maintained professionally. Planning is critical to the process as it determines the success or failure of the communication network and its activities. Partnering with Endress+Hauser ensures a solid plan, however, successful deployment and execution relies on the amount of effort that went into the planning and engineering phases. If the correct questions are not asked upfront, then quite often activities tend to slow down as clouds of doubt start to develop. These clouds of doubt can be used to argue against the use of digital communication technology.
This brings me back to maintenance. If the maintenance division do not have the skills or the knowledge the technology is doomed. In many instances EPC organisations are contracted to build or refurbish plants and their objective is to meet their SQC (speed quality and cost) parameters as agreed upon with their client. Unfortunately, the client often only gets involved towards the hand-over process, and gets left with a digital beast that they do not know how to operate or diagnose.
The challenge with digital communication networks is that they are not ‘multimeter friendly’; they require expertise and understanding, both skills acquired through experience and training. It is a sad reality that end users often miss out on a lot of benefits that fieldbus networks have to offer, because they probably were not ever made aware of them, for instance:
* Reduced hardware components (I/O cards and cabling infrastructure).
* Transmission of process values in the form of data packets making multiple process variable transmission a reality over a single pair cable.
* Diagnostic information from all field instruments available over the network.
If the required skills are not available in-house to take advantage of these benefits, then the solution is to partner with an expert in field network engineered solutions. Endress+Hauser can assist in this regard, whether it is engineering, design, deployment, commissioning, training, maintenance or all of the above.
For more information contact Lita Mpahlwa, Endress+Hauser, +27 (0)11 262 8000, info@za.endress.com, www.za.endress.com
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