Case Study: Streamlining Alert Management with FACIT
Overview.
Managing equipment alerts effectively is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and preventing equipment failures. The client, an industrial operator, faced significant challenges with a high volume of alerts generated by their equipment. The alerts varied in frequency, and the sheer volume made it difficult to prioritise and address them efficiently.
Intelligent Plant’s FACIT (Fault Analysis and Configuration Improvement Tool) was deployed to help the client manage these alerts more effectively by categorising and analysing them. The application also identified misconfigurations in existing alerts, leading to a more refined understanding of the equipment and improved alert management.
Challenges.
The client encountered several challenges related to equipment alert management:
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High Volume of Alerts: The client was overwhelmed by the sheer number of alerts, which included both frequent and infrequent notifications. Managing this volume was challenging and led to confusion over which alerts required immediate attention.
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Alert Prioritisation: With many alerts being generated, it was difficult to prioritise and focus on the most critical issues. This often resulted in inefficiencies and missed opportunities for timely intervention.
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Misconfigured Alerts: Some alerts were found to be misconfigured, generating unnecessary notifications or failing to capture important issues. This misconfiguration compounded the challenge of understanding and managing equipment performance.
Solution.
Intelligent Plant deployed the FACIT tool to address the client’s alert management issues. FACIT is designed to analyse and optimise fault alerts, making it easier for operators to manage and prioritise them.
Key Elements of the Solution:
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Alert Grouping: FACIT grouped alerts by type, allowing the client to investigate and address issues in clusters rather than individually. This approach helped streamline the investigation process and improved overall efficiency.
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Configuration Review: The tool analysed the existing alert outputs and helped identify several misconfigured alerts. By addressing these misconfigurations, FACIT helped ensure that alerts were more accurate and relevant.
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Enhanced Understanding: FACIT’s analysis provided the client with a clearer understanding of their equipment performance and the nature of the alerts being generated. This insight enabled better decision-making and more effective management of equipment.
Results and Impact.
The implementation of FACIT led to several significant improvements for the client:
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Improved Alert Management: By grouping alerts by type and streamlining the investigation process, FACIT helped the client better manage the high volume of notifications. This organisation allowed for more focused and efficient responses to equipment issues.
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Configuration Optimisation: The identification and correction of misconfigured alerts led to more accurate and relevant notifications. This optimisation reduced unnecessary alerts and ensured that critical issues were properly flagged.
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Enhanced Equipment Understanding: With a clearer view of alert types and configurations, the client gained a better understanding of their equipment performance. This improved knowledge allowed for more effective maintenance and operational strategies.
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Operational Efficiency: The improvements in alert management and configuration optimisation can lead to greater operational efficiency. The client is able to address issues more proactively and reduce the time spent managing alerts.
FACIT can be used as a tool for tracking alerts - both active and historical
Conclusion.
The deployment of FACIT provided the client with a powerful tool for optimising alert management and improving equipment performance understanding. By grouping alerts and identifying misconfigurations, FACIT streamlined the alert handling process, reduced unnecessary notifications, and enhanced overall operational efficiency. This case study demonstrates the value of advanced fault analysis tools in addressing complex alert management challenges and improving asset performance.