Software

ARTS™ - Asset and Records Traceability System

The ARTS™ application is designed to aggregate equipment information from multiple data repositories. The implementation and subsequent maintenance of these systems are typically performed at different times, by different personnel (possibly organized within different refinery or corporate divisions), and with different methodologies - resulting in disparate information across the facility.

Disparate data may come in the form of deficiencies (i.e. missing records or data) or discrepancies (different data for the same equipment) between data sources - and since these data repositories typically provide the information upon which critical engineering decisions are made, such deficiencies and/or discrepancies can have a substantial negative impact upon the success and potentially the safety of engineering decisions.

The ARTS™ application allows a facility to identify these discrepancies and deficiencies. Through its high level of configurability, ARTS™ is able to handle any attribute data stored for any equipment type. Logic inherent to the ARTS™ application permits the facility to map equipment records between different data sources - even when the methodology and naming conventions used in these data sources are dissimilar.

Once the ARTS™ system is populated with the information from the engineering data repositories, and the data discrepancies and deficiencies are identified, the facility must determine the correct values for each data attribute. ARTS™ addresses this need by providing functionality to link electronic documents to ARTS™ data records. An annotation feature allows the source information on these engineering documents to be highlighted and associated with the ARTS™ equipment record attribute - permitting a clear "traceability" of the electronic data to the engineering document(s) which indicate the correct value for the attribute.

The functionality provided by the ARTS™ system provides two primary benefits. First, the application provides the ability to aggregate and validate critical engineering information in one central location. In many facilities the owner of each data repository controls the access to its associated engineering data. Limits on software licensing and concerns regarding data integrity often cause these owners to restrict access to the data applications.

ARTS™ allows this information to be made available to any individual or group without concern for data integrity and without licensing restrictions. The ARTS™ web-based interface also eliminates the need for training on individual engineering applications, which is often required to understand the data, learn to navigate the application to find relevant information, and become knowledgeable in what the data represents. Second, by permitting engineering documents to be linked and annotated, the ARTS™ system provides confidence in the attribute data values for each piece of equipment. This "master data" becomes the benchmark against which ARTS™ measures the data stored within the engineering data repositories. Through the annotation process, the facility can be confident that discrepancies identified in ARTS™ are being measured against validated and accurate information.

With the information provided by ARTS™, a facility can improve the quality of data stored within its engineering applications. With the benefit of knowing that clean, consistent data resides in these data repositories, facility personnel can be confident that accurate and "traceable" information is being used to make engineering decisions which affect the efficiency and integrity of its equipment and processes, and the safety of its employees.

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CERTS™ - Certification and Employee Refresher Training System

The PSM Standard prescribes the following with regard to refresher training for operations personnel:

Refresher training shall be provided at least every three years, and more often if necessary, to each employee involved in operating a process to assure that the employee understands and adheres to the current operating procedures of the process. The employer, in consultation with the employees involved in operating the process, shall determine the appropriate frequency of refresher training.

Provenance has developed the CERTS™ application in response to a demonstrated need to maintain compliance with this aspect of the Training element of the PSM Standard. Although the program meets the basic requirement of tracking job certification (and recertification) dates, it approaches the task in a unique way - by documenting training opportunities that take place during the recertification period. This approach is designed to promote successful audit compliance, as all training opportunities (such as participation in scenario drills or PHA/Process Hazards Analyses studies, MOC, classroom training, etc.) are documented and recorded in the CERTS™ system.

CERTS™ provides the additional benefits and functionality:

  • Track recertification progress based on training against operating procedures required by each job certification. Multiple certifications may be tracked for a single operator.
  • Scenario Drills are defined based on the operating procedures covered during the drill. As drills are scheduled, completed and approved, participants receive credit towards recertification progress.
  • Generate a "Walk-Through" test used by training personnel to confirm competency at the end of the recertification period.
  • Email notifications for event-based and time-based events, such as pending certification expirations, required approvals, etc.
  • Permit feedback from operations personnel that can be used to refine operating procedures and training periods, to ensure that procedures are "true to the field" and training is provided on a sufficient frequency.
  • Print certification documentation for inclusion in employee file, including recertification date and training opportunities completed during recertification period.
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Custom Software Application Development

Provenance maintains a broad level of expertise in the implementation and framework of third-party applications commonly used throughout the oil, gas and chemical industries. Additionally, Provenance has significant experience in developing custom desktop, server and web-based applications to solve specific real-world problems that our clients have faced. We place a high level of importance and focus on leveraging automation to provide solutions to such problems. Examples of this type of custom application development includes:

  • CAD Attribute Data Extraction Utility
  • CAD Continuation Flag Exception Checking Utility
  • Management of Change
  • Personnel Management of Change
  • Management of Organizational Change
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