Alarm Management, Analysis and Rationalization (Bahrain)

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Learn the fundamentals of alarm management, the impact alarms have on the operations of a plant and how to effectively reduce alarms. The Alarm Management course will give you the tools to begin taking control of abnormal situations. This is a hands-on workshop where participants will work through computer-based exercises. This course is part of the AMSS certification program.

The Alarm Management course provides participants with a comprehensive look at alarm management, what alarm management has evolved to, best practices when integrating an alarm management project, legislation and insight into creating a business case that is tailored to the participant’s own, unique situation. The course is divided into modules each with an exercise or discussion component. Each module builds on the previous one so that learning is done in an organized and structured format

The Workshop will take place in a computer lab where each student must supply their own laptop for completion of the workshop. The course is comprised of presentations, examples, demonstrations and hands-on exercises. Participants are encouraged to discuss current alarm and event issues they face.

The course is divided into modules. Each module will build on the previous one so that learning is done in an organized and structured format.

Module 1: Introduction: The Alarm Management Philosophy Workshop begins by describing key issues surrounding "the alarm management problem." You will be given context regarding the many facets of Alarm Management as well as a description of the course objectives.

Module 2: Standards Legislation: This module reviews key legislation regulating alarm management and how it affects your facility. Upon completion of this module, you will understand the legislative issues enabling you to make informed business and operational decisions about your facility.

Module 3: Alarm Management Concepts & Tools: You will learn about the different types/phases of Alarm Management and methods therein.

Module 4: Business Case Tools: You will acquire tools that will guide you through writing a business case for an alarm management project with an ROI focus. Upon completing this module you will know how to create an effective business case.

Module 5: Project Phases: You will understand a high-level overview of the different stages in an alarm management project. Further, you will gain insight into what stages must be implemented and which stages can be implemented later on.

Module 6: Philosophy Document: Companies spend several months and several thousands of dollars on consultants to develop a site-specific alarm philosophy document. This module teaches you how to develop your own philosophy document tailored to your plant and control system. After reviewing the key sections of an alarm philosophy, you will develop your own specific document.

Module 7: Alarm Management Assessment: This module teaches you how to assess and measure the effectiveness of your site alarm management activities. A review of the tools, practices, and benchmarks are presented to help put a framework together for each participant to analyze and assess their own site.

Module 8: Alarm Analysis: Benchmark and analyze your current system to determine what alarms are giving you problems, which alarms can be easily fixed and the areas of quick returns. You will develop and determine key alarm performance metrics you can continuously rely on to give a constant indication of the state of your alarm system. These metrics will be revisited throughout the life cycle to ensure that your process is operating at an optimal level with respect to alarming.

Module 9: Rationalization and AOA meetings: Alarm Rationalization, or Alarm Objectives Analysis, is a procedure where each alarm is examined to ensure it conforms to the alarm philosophy. Participants will learn the full rationalization process.

Module 10: DCS Implementation and Dynamic Alarm Management Techniques: The function of Dynamic Alarm Configuration Software is to optimally configure your control system for each process operating state. This module addresses when, where and why particular alarms should intelligently and automatically disable during operating states where they are no longer relevant (e.g. when the plant is shut down), and when they should be re-enabled.

Module 11: Ongoing Maintenance Techniques: Once your alarm system has improved, it is vital to maintain it so as not to lose the results and the value realized. This module will provide and review the best practices in industry for simplifying monitoring and maintenance activities and leveraging your alarm management infrastructure.