Envoy Process Monitor Solves Problems Others Have Not
Envoy Process Monitor (EPM) allows users to quickly identify all anomalies in a process without resorting to trend examination, spreadsheets, or DCS alarms and do it instantly in real time. EPM looks at all tags in a process or a selected subset chosen by the user such as PI AF elements or KPIs.
Limits and targets, sometimes referre
d to as centerlines, are calculated automatically for all tags. EPM can be configured to do this for all data, or segment it by grade or product, speed quartile, or condition (startup, for example)
Users can also establish targets and limits using a query to identify best in class performance. For example, on grade 35, calculate targets and limits for the grade runs in the past six months downtime < 1%, quality > 99, costs <$35/ton, and production rate > 1000 tpd.
When users pull data, they can elect to return only those tags outside of limits. They can also apply a filter to view only relevant tags. This can be by process area, process element (reliability, quality, reactor, machine, etc.), magnitude away from target, etc. Data is refreshed every ten minutes.
EPM also addresses the longevity of process deviations so that users don’t have to constantly be reminded certain pieces of equipment are down or in need of maintenance. This function allows users to identify process deviations that occurred in the past, as well. For example, what tags were outside of limits at 1 pm on Oct 1, 2016?
EPM includes a trending tool so users can view multiple tags by grade or product without showing data collected during downtime.
EPM incorporates operator comments/checklists to identify corrective action
How EPM Works
EPM pulls in data from data historians such as PI, then aggregates that data into hourly averages, daily averages, etc in a SQL database. Users at the mill use a front end client to view the data.
EPM Generates Files Automatically
EPM generates Excel and PowerPoint Files on a scheduled basis (normally once per day)
Excel files contain aggregated and filtered data for all tags in a process; if the process produces grades or products, then one file is generated for each product ran since the last report generation. Exception and shift reports can also be generated on a scheduled basis. The Envoy Excel Addin can then be used on these files to perform more in-depth analysis
PowerPoint files contain a list of all tags (variables) that are outside of the normal operating footprint, listed in a manner that prioritizes tags that have been outside the longest since the last report as well as severity.
Why Use Envoy Process Monitor?
If you are still unsure about EPM, ask yourself these questions:
Still Using Trends and Excel Add-ins to analyze data from your historian?
Tired of relying on process engineers’ spreadsheets to identify critical issues?
Spending too much time trying to figure out what targets and limits should be in dashboard applications?
Wish you could instantly identify what historian tags changed when a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) changed?
Tired of paying huge licensing fees, implementation costs that often exceed license fees, to be further insulted by “buying back the software” ever five years due to maintenance fees?
If so, then Envoy Process Monitor is the answer.