Trends in Process Information Management

Abstract

As refiners and petrochemical plant operators continue to reduce head count and the regulatory agencies focus on severe penalties for after-the-fact noncompliance, the empowered process operator stands out as the focal point for compliance activities. This will lead to "pro-active" Information Systems through intelligent, timely analysis of real-time and near real-time data to mitigate problems before they occur. These predictive models will be integrated through Microsoft certified applications based upon ActiveX-type component technologies. Indeed, component methodologies represent the innovative incubators for the development of new compliance tools, where compliance is safety, environmental, and sound business practice procedures. A prototype information system design will be discussed from the process operator's perspective, not the information system or information infrastructure perspective