Troubleshooting Support for Petrochemical Operators
We have completed many projects focused on understanding and improving the cognitive skills of petrochemical operators.
Domain: Petrochemical
Focus areas: Sensemaking; problem solving; thinking beyond procedures
Challenge
Operators working in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry must manage complex systems, containing thousands of automated control loops and higher-order interactions. As a result, their ability to detect, diagnose, and recover from possible failures is critical. Our team has collaborated with numerous training departments across North America to create exercises for both, field and console operators, enhancing their ability to understand and resolve complex issues to maintain safe and normal operations.
Outcome
Our team has developed over twenty ShadowBox scenarios on concepts in the refining and petrochemical industry, including distillation principles, fouling dynamics, and combustion issues. In collaboration with numerous training departments, we have delivered scenarios training via pen/paper, web-based ShadowBox application, and in both, low- and high-fidelity simulation platforms. Additionally, we have implemented storytelling methods to elicit, capture, and utilize stories, which helps support on-the-job training and enhance operators’ ability to share and retain critical knowledge.
Impact
Leaders in the industry continue to use the ShadowBox technique within their training curriculums to teach non-procedural skills and accelerate expertise within their organization.
Background and Description
ShadowBox has completed multiple projects for the Center for Operator Performance, a worldwide leader in raising the performance level of operators and improving health, safety, and environmental effectiveness in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry. With a focus on training, ShadowBox LLC has:
- Investigated how operators make decisions, particularly in complex and uncertain situations.
- Designed multiple training programs on a variety of topics for both operators and trainers.
- Developed a comprehensive storytelling guide that outlines best practices for enhancing story listening, story triggering, and storytelling within an organization.
Sample Materials
Check out some samples from work with the Center for Operator Performance.