AM-17-71 New Technology Addresses Operator Training Challenges

Description:

Many studies have concluded that operator competency directly impacts safe, reliable and profitable process operations. The benefits of well-trained operators are fully understood in terms of better health, safety and environmental performance, lower cycle times, faster recovery from incidents, fewer off-spec products, and improved morale. Developing competent operators in today’s environment presents significant challenges. In summary people need to be trained fast and right. The established techniques for developing operator competencies generally follow a tiered approach with class room or online training delivered through Learning Management Systems (LMS) followed by on the job training and in some cases simulator based training of various types. It is generally accepted that people learn best when they are engaged hands on with the systems they are working with, however in the case of process plant there are obvious dangers associated with exposing trainees to the real work operating environment too early in their development. The industry has responded to this challenge with the development of the Operator Training Simulator.