29-11-2016

Metso's installed base management services for field devices

Metso's Installed Base Management Services enables the oil and gas industry to be better prepared for turnarounds and improves the long-term availability and reliability of their field devices. The digitalized solution has been successfully applied in turnarounds around the world, and demand for it is continuously increasing as its benefits become more evident.
 
Information in asset and maintenance management systems typically gets corrupted due to maintenance and modification actions performed over the years. The correct information is critical when planning any upcoming maintenance actions, process improvements and turnarounds with thousands of field devices.

Through Metso's services, it is possible to build a better understanding of the installed base, get accurate and confirmed information about field device types and their life cycle statuses, and identify possible issues and safety risks. All of these aspects are of great value in upgrade, replacement and maintenance planning.

"Based on process and device criticality, and on the customer's availability and reliability needs, Metso builds a comprehensive proposal with short- and long-term development roadmaps. This information helps to avoid surprises and ensures the availability of the correct materials and resources during and in between turnarounds," says Petri Rintala, Head of Installed Base Management, Metso.

Extending turnaround and maintenance intervals
Correct installed base data ensures that the customer can make correct decisions if field devices need to be maintained, replaced or upgraded and helps to ensure correct stock levels for spare parts and field devices. This, in turn, lowers the risk of maintenance in the near future and thus significantly improves equipment availability, reliability and safety until the next planned turnaround.
 
"In the past decades, the industry has taken steps from reactive maintenance to criticality and reliability based maintenance to extend turnaround and service intervals. Metso's Installed Base Management Services is yet another way of improving these capabilities," Rintala adds.
 
Additionally, thanks to the service experience gained over the decades and, as an original equipment manufacturer, Metso knows its field devices and the challenges of various applications and can provide service recommendations to enhance equipment performance to meet the application requirements.
 
Digitalized efficiency
Digitalization is making a strong entry into valve maintenance. To fully benefit from its Installed Base Management solution, Metso combines the data with its efficient field device diagnostics and process performance monitoring tools.

"It is our vision that the required up to date information is available whenever needed for maintenance, upgrade or replacement purposes," Rintala concludes.