AVESTAR Team Wins 2013 FLC-MAR Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for 3D Virtual Energy Plant Simulator

Join me in congratulating Stephen Zitney Director, NETL AVESTAR Cente and the entire NETL team for Achieving Operational Excellence for Energy Systems from Smart Plant-to-Smart Grid

From the AVESTAR LinkedIn Group: "The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has selected the “AVESTAR 3D Virtual Energy Plant Simulator and Immersive Training System (ITS)” as a winner of the 2013 FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional (MAR) Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. Based on the EYESIM virtual reality (VR) software from Invensys Operations Management and deployed at NETL's AVESTAR Center, the virtual energy plant ITS is used to deliver realistic, cost-effective, and low-risk workforce training to the energy industries. VR-based training helps operators increase their process knowledge and confidence, so they can bring plants online faster, reduce shutdowns and downtime, and reduce the risk and cost of equipment damage.

Several partners are working with NETL to make the system available to a wider audience. NETL has agreements with West Virginia University for engineering students and researchers and with Pierpont Community & Technical College for students in their power plant certificate program sponsored by FirstEnergy Corporation. A license agreement between NETL and Invensys will allow the technology to be delivered as a generic virtual energy plant ITS and be used as the basis for developing customized, plant-specific ITS solutions for the energy industry, academia, and national laboratories.

The award will be presented to NETL at the 2013 FLC-MAR meeting on November 13-14, 2013 in Leesburg, Virginia. http://www.flcmidatlantic.org/awards/2013/"

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Workforce Enablement Technology: Training the Operators of the Future

Workforce Enablement Technology

Training The Operators Of The Future

Special thanks to Cecil F. Shewchuk, for writing this white paper illustrating the value of new operator training technology in a plant!

 
For a limited time you can request a free copy of the white paper by emailing me at joseph.mcmullen@invensys.com. All I ask is that you comment on your favorite quote from the paper in this blog post. 

Here are my top 5 quotes from the white paper:

1.     From gaming systems to Blu-ray players, the technology gap between the generations is staggering. When you consider that your plant’s operation relies on a well-trained workforce, you must realize that the training tools that worked in the past may not be effective with today’s younger workforce.

2.     As the older generation retires, technology holds the key to engaging the next generation of operators. Today’s technology enables higher workforce retention by accelerating careers and keeping the next generation of workers more engaged and invested with updated training tools that speed training time. Among the best indicators of the efficiency and success of any organization is the level and depth of its personnel training.

3.     Using an OTS system in which basic training is integrated with graphical schematics of the actual plant DCS that the operator trainee is expected to use, develops a familiarity that instills confidence. This comes from the opportunity to practice real scenarios with hands-on experience in a safe environment.

4.     A well-trained operator learns to respond efficiently and quickly to potential or real safety hazards, having had the opportunity to practice abnormal plant situations and emergencies.

5.     A plant with a workforce that actually is empowered by the confidence of knowledge will experience greater safety, improved reliability and higher efficiency. All of this will consequently result in better financial performance for the company with the foresight to make investments in this technology.

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From RefinerLink.com: 10 Steps for Refinery Startup Readiness (By Steve Pagani)

This is a very good article, and I believe illustrate the importance of OTS at a refinery. 

"The most critical and dangerous aspect of refinery operations is unit startup. Safe and seamless unit startup requires all refinery disciplines to work cooperatively.
" Read the full article here

Many of his points can be directly assisted with an Operator Training Simulator (OTS). 

For instance, the following points can all be address with an OTS:

1. People readiness
2. Process readiness
3. Knowing your place
4. Understanding the procedures
5. Understanding process interactions

I am sure there are more, and I would like to hear your opinion. How does an OTS assist in startup?

About Operator Training: Invensys offers a computer-based training method, Operator Training Simulators (OTS), to help give operators the skills they need to run a process or plant. Refineries and other plants are being forced to rely on inexperienced operators due to the aging workforce. Undertrained employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery and may also risk the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys offers an Operator Training System to aid refineries in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the refinery and perform operational excellence.

Operators learn the ins and outs of a refinery in this virtual control room. DYNSIM is a model that controls the plant response. Trainees learn how to react appropriately when a similar situation occurs in the actual plant. DYNSIM Checkout is the first process dynamic simulation product designed specifically for control checkout. This solution can validate control system design before it is installed in the plant which eliminates many problems that occur during startup.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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From the Wall Street Journal: It's Not a Job, It's a Game - Chemical firms need plant operators. One way to draw new talent: put the work into video simulators.

Great Article on taring the operators of the future in today's Wall Street Journal.

Hint: They are using EYESIM!

About EYESIM: Undertrained and inexperienced employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery while also risking the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys offers solutions that aid in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the plant.

The immersive training system (ITS), SimSci Esscor EYESIM, is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all operators by a high-fidelity 3 dimensional process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. Operator Training Simulators (OTS) allow operators to train on a computer in an identical environment to the control room. The virtual reality plant feature significantly improves maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation.

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What value does the DOE see in EYESIM? See the video in the post

Undertrained employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery and may also risk the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys Operations Management offers solutions that aid refineries in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the refinery.



SimSci-Esscor offers an immersive training system, EYESIM, which is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all refinery operators by a high-fidelity process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. The virtual plant feature will significantly improve maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation. For more information on EYESIM, view the product page here.

About EYESIM: Undertrained and inexperienced employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery while also risking the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys offers solutions that aid in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the plant.

The immersive training system (ITS), SimSci Esscor EYESIM, is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all operators by a high-fidelity 3 dimensional process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. Operator Training Simulators (OTS) allow operators to train on a computer in an identical environment to the control room. The virtual reality plant feature significantly improves maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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EYESIM - The future of training

Undertrained employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery and may also risk the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys Operations Management offers solutions that aid refineries in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the refinery.

SimSci-Esscor offers an immersive training system, EYESIM, which is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all refinery operators by a high-fidelity process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. The virtual plant feature will significantly improve maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation. For more information on EYESIM, view the product page here.

Guest Blogger: Kaylen McMullen, Marketing Assistant, Invensys Operations Management

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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EYESIM - The Gamification of Operator Training

Undertrained employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery and may also risk the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys Operations Management offers solutions that aid refineries in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the refinery.

SimSci-Esscor offers an immersive training system, EYESIM, which is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all refinery operators by a high-fidelity process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. The virtual plant feature will significantly improve maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation. For more information on EYESIM, view the product page here.

Guest Blogger: Kaylen McMullen, Marketing Assistant, Invensys Operations Management

About EYESIM: Undertrained and inexperienced employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery while also risking the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to properly train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys offers solutions that aid in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the plant.

The immersive training system (ITS), SimSci Esscor EYESIM, is a technology breakthrough in training. The EYESIM solution connects all operators by a high-fidelity 3 dimensional process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment. Operator Training Simulators (OTS) allow operators to train on a computer in an identical environment to the control room. The virtual reality plant feature significantly improves maintenance activities by offering direct feedback once a trainee completes an action. This will provide the knowledge necessary to act appropriately in any given situation.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Free webinar today! Aging Workforce and Operator Training - Improve your bottom line with fast, effective training techniques

This series of educational webinars tackles some of the important issues facing today's petroleum enterprise, such as; heavy oil processing, control over material losses, dealing with an aging workforce and related training. This series is brought to you by Invensys and presented by our leading industry experts.

Join us Tuesday, December 4, 2012 for the 3rd webinar in this series: Aging Workforce and Operator Training - Improve your bottom line with fast, effective training techniques

Who should attend: Plant Managers, Operations Managers, Training Managers, Human Resource Managers


Inexperienced and undertrained operators are a liability, risking not only the safety of refinery personnel but also the refinery's profitability. A less experienced operations workforce is likely to become a persistent trend as an older generation of employees retires and is replaced by a new generation with less time on the job.

Refineries need a strategy to get their workforce up to speed faster and transfer the knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Learn how new training methods that utilize modern simulation technologies can help train your workforce just like fighter pilots learn to fly a jet. These methods are fast, efficient, and much more effective.Learn more about these new training methods.

Register now »

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Free Webinar tomorrow: Aging Workforce and Operator Training - Improve your bottom line with fast, effective training techniques

This series of educational webinars tackles some of the important issues facing today's petroleum enterprise, such as; heavy oil processing, control over material losses, dealing with an aging workforce and related training. This series is brought to you by Invensys and presented by our leading industry experts.

Join us Tuesday, December 4, 2012 for the 3rd webinar in this series: Aging Workforce and Operator Training - Improve your bottom line with fast, effective training techniques

Who should attend: Plant Managers, Operations Managers, Training Managers, Human Resource Managers


Inexperienced and undertrained operators are a liability, risking not only the safety of refinery personnel but also the refinery's profitability. A less experienced operations workforce is likely to become a persistent trend as an older generation of employees retires and is replaced by a new generation with less time on the job.

Refineries need a strategy to get their workforce up to speed faster and transfer the knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Learn how new training methods that utilize modern simulation technologies can help train your workforce just like fighter pilots learn to fly a jet. These methods are fast, efficient, and much more effective.

Learn more about these new training methods.

Register now »

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From Rigzone - EYESIM: The Future of Training is Virtual Reality

Great Article on EYESIM

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DOE AVESTAR Center Deploys 3-D Virtual Training System

Successful Site Acceptance Testing Allows NETL to Improve Coal-Fired Power Plants

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s AVESTAR™ Center has taken a major step forward with the successful deployment and site acceptance testing of a new 3-D virtual immersive training system for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants with carbon capture. The training center, launched in 2011, continues to build its portfolio of dynamic simulators, virtual plant technologies, and advanced research capabilities to satisfy industry’s growing need for training and experience in the operation and control of high-efficiency, near-zero-emissions energy plants.

Read more here

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Free webcast tomorrow: Register now for Training Refinery Operators of the Future

Refinery Wide Optimization Webinar Series

Spend an hour with us to learn more about our specific solutions. We also record the webinar so that you can watch it later if the times don’t work for you to listen live.

Sign-up and learn how SimSci-Esscor is Training Refinery Operators of the Future.

For North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East there is one on October 2nd.
For Asia there is one on Wednesday morning, October 3rd.

Register today!

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