10 ways to improve this week
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This document outlines 10 ways to make huge changes over 10 weeks through controlling automation. It provides strategies and estimated times to complete tasks such as cleaning electrical cabinets, organizing documentation, backing up PLC and HMI code, recording key VFD parameters, engaging with staff and operations, creating issues lists, learning project management techniques, identifying opportunities, and ensuring backups are in place in case PCs crash. The overall benefit is improving plant operations, maintenance, and preparedness through these organizational and maintenance activities.
10 ways to improve this week
- 1. 10 WAYS TO MAKE A HUGE CHANGE ….every week for the next 10 weeks!! A quick path to making things happen NOW in your automated system! www.controllingautomation.com
- 2. CLEAN ELECTRICAL CABINETS Straighten wires | clean surfaces | seal doors STRATEGY : Carve out time from the duties of one of your technicians. Give them the vision of what a good job will look like. 2 c A WEEK 1 TIME TO COMPLETE : 30 minutes for a medium size cabinet WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : Faster troubleshooting | Higher level of excellence in everyone who gets in the panels | A better representation of your plant
- 3. ORGANIZE DOCUMENTATION Soft into a file structure | Hard on a worthy shelf STRATEGY : Create a solid file structure …> Find what you have …> Get what you don’t have 3 c A WEEK 2 TIME TO COMPLETE : 5 minutes per document on average WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : The information you need will be where you need it, when you need it.
- 4. BACK-UP HMI & PLC CODE Refresh from each controller | Backup the new set in a separate place STRATEGY : List all your controllers …> Systematically move through each one 4 c A WEEK 3 TIME TO COMPLETE : 20 minutes per controller WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : When a PLC or HMI fails you will be prepared to get back on your feet immediately
- 5. RECORD KEY VFD PARAMETERS ID what they key parameters are | Create a document to store them STRATEGY : Determine what is important about the application …> Use the devices manual to get the current value 5 c A WEEK 4 TIME TO COMPLETE : 30 minutes per VFD WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : No need to guess when you have to replace the VFD at failure
- 6. TELL YOUR STAFF THEY ARE VALUABLE Ensure they know how you feel about them STRATEGY : ID what you value in each one …> Specifically tell each one in a 1 minute conversation 6 c A WEEK 5 TIME TO COMPLETE : 5 minutes per person WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : People often don’t really know how much you care unless you tell them. Once they do, they will care back.
- 7. ASK OPERATIONS WHAT THEY DREAM OF Engage with the users | Maximize efforts with the budget STRATEGY : Connect the capabilities of the system with the people who use it. 7 c A WEEK 6 TIME TO COMPLETE : 30 minutes WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : It will demonstrate you are on their side. It will also expand the imagination of the possibilities of solving pain they are experiencing.
- 8. CREATE A TOP 3 ISSUES LIST ID Major Issues | Create Focus Until Resolved STRATEGY : Survey Operations and your staff …> Consolidate what they know into the list 8 c A WEEK 7 TIME TO COMPLETE : 60 minutes WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : Universal focus on priority issues until they are solved. The team ends up helping each other to check it off the list.
- 9. READ AN ARTICLE ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT Learn From a Professional Methodology of How To Get Things Done STRATEGY : Find a good source …> Find a good article, especially on work scope …> READ It!! 9 c A WEEK 8 TIME TO COMPLETE : 20 minutes WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : Introduction to new ways of accomplishing work.
- 10. MAKE A LIST OF OPPORTUNITIES Change Your Mindset From Problems to Winning STRATEGY : Go into a brainstorming mode of finding any and everything that is wrong or deficient. 10 c A WEEK 9 TIME TO COMPLETE : 2 hours WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : Better awareness of what you are up against without the internal resistance of the enormity of getting it done (that comes later).
- 11. IF ANY PC YOU DEPEND ON CRASHES….ARE YOU READY? Backup Plans and Infrastructure STRATEGY : ID the computers involved …> Select backup software (ShadowProtect is excellent) …> Find a connected drive to store to 11 c A WEEK 10 TIME TO COMPLETE : 4 hours WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? : Avoidance of disastrous consequences of needing to rebuild software applications and instances.