A lot of technological advancements seem like novelties when they first come around— until those novelties turn into necessities. Take video conferencing for example, what started as another way to connect is now a necessity to conduct productive business during COVID-19. A lot of us are able to stay home but still feel connected to our coworkers and get things done efficiently due to modern technology. That’s exactly what Revere is doing with remote monitoring.
Remote Monitoring
We’re all trying to scale down our operations in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The fewer people we can have working, the better. For some industries, this is easy; everyone just works from home. For other essential industries, it involves much more thought.
Take a water treatment plant, for example— with remote monitoring, fewer people are required to be physically present at the plant. Instead, one operator can monitor the entire plant from the control room, out in the field or even from home. He or she has access to HMI graphics using a tablet or smartphone, and also has the ability to import analytics and alarm systems. They can make sure things are running as they should, without needing multiple operators throughout the plant. These monitoring systems are for just that—monitoring. They’re for looking at analytical data, checking alarm summaries, and making sure everything is within compliance. For safety reasons, remote monitoring is not meant to let the operator start or stop anything remotely.
When it comes to alarm systems, remote monitoring can notify you when an alarm is triggered by a phone call, text or email. Whether you and your coworkers are walking the plant or working from home, you’ll get a notification that something’s not right. If you don’t acknowledge the message, the system will call round robin until someone handles it. Not only does this allow you to stay on top of what’s going on at your plant and handle the situation quickly, but it also lets more people work remotely— which is a necessity right now. Even outside of a pandemic, this is extremely helpful in keeping things running smoothly. If a plant operator is present, but not in the control room, and something goes wrong, they’ll be notified immediately.
In addition to needing fewer people in a plant that’s required to be manned, remote monitoring makes checking up on auxiliary locations extremely efficient. Take pump stations, for example. These, by definition, aren’t manned. With remote monitoring, there’s no need for someone to drive around to every remote site in order to check on things, because the operator can remotely monitor from wherever he or she is. They can check the tank levels, system pressure, station power, motor current and temperature (among other system parameters) allowing the operator to catch a pending fault before it occurs. Even if they’re manning a plant already, they can check on remote sites that might be unmanned. Here, you’re saving both manpower and time.
Keeping You Online During COVID-19
You’ve heard it before— these are unprecedented times. But Revere is always thinking one step ahead, which is why things like remote monitoring and virtual Factory Acceptance Tests were in the works before this global pandemic. We’re always looking for new ways to make doing business more convenient for our clients. Right now, separating and isolating people is a top priority. Industries all over the world are trying to accomplish the same things with fewer people, and that’s exactly what we do all the time in automation. We’re setting our clients up to not only stay efficient during times like this, but to also be more efficient under normal circumstances.
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
It’s not uncommon for municipalities to wait until something is a necessity to do it— but by that point, it’s too late. Plants that had no remote monitoring in place when this crisis hit are experiencing substantial setbacks because they weren’t thinking proactively. A huge part of being an essential service is taking advantage of changing technology, so you’re able to continue providing your service in unexpected and unknown circumstances. You should be thinking, “How can we make things more efficient all the time— not just during a pandemic?” This mindset will not only allow you to serve your clients better all around, but will also set you up for the next time disaster strikes.
Don’t wait for a new environmental protection mandate, obsolescence of equipment or new competition to expand and grow your capabilities. Give Revere a call, and take the first step today.