Continuous improvement in the gas plant
Jose Ruiz A and Chris Jordan BA Woodside Energy.
B EY.
The APPEA Journal 56(2) 582-582 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ15088
Published: 2016
Abstract
Operators that are highly reliable, productive and capable create a culture focused on safety, quality and efficiency. They promote a mindset of continually improving plant performance and reducing system stoppages and failures. Continuous improvement is the key management and work-practice method used to change attitudes and embed this culture in the operating organisation.
In this extended abstract the authors provide an overview of continuous improvement in industry and how they have been successfully applied in one of Australia’s largest gas plants. How continuous improvement allows leaders to set clear expectations for operations, to define plans and aspirations, and to build capability—moving the plant and the organisation to new levels of performance—will be shown.
The extended abstract will demonstrate how continuous improvement creates a culture where people share successes and behaviours across the gas value chain, as well as learning from mistakes. A first-hand account of how continuous improvement has delivered sustained operational improvement in one of Australia’s largest gas plants will also be featured.
Jose Ruiz is an industrial engineer with over 35 years’ experience. He has spent much of his career production and operations and has been with Woodside Energy since 2009. Jose has had early exposure to world class manufacturing environments such as the automotive industry, and has been provided with the opportunity to learn and deploy continuous improvement strategy, tools and techniques. He takes a hands-on approach, and holds a high level of customer and business focus through the engagement of the people working at the activity level. Prior to joining Woodside, Jose was a project engineer in processing plants in South America, an industrial and manufacturing senior engineer in automotive assembly plants in Australia, and a production and plant manager in automotive first tier suppliers in both Australia and the US. He also worked as a process improvement and business systems manager in an aluminum processing plant in Australia and Asia Pacific. |
Chris Jordan is a Director for EY’s Performance Improvement Advisory group. He is a chemical process engineer specialising in process efficiency, operational improvement, and business transformation across organisation. Starting his career as an operations engineer at Dow Chemical’s Light Hydrocarbon Plant in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada, Chris has 20 years’ experience working across operations to executive management across the oil and gas industry. He has significant process improvement experience using a number of methodologies including Lean and Six Sigma. He has worked across North America, Asia, Australia and Africa. Chris has an undergraduate qualification in chemical engineering from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Western Australia. Chris is also a certified Master Black Belt and Lean practitioner. He is a member of Engineers Australia and holds a professional engineering diploma from APEGA, Canada. |
