Plant logbooks

[bogiboy]

I work in a plant where there is no DCS or PLC, just old classic pneumatic or electromechanical control-systems.
Our operators have to log (every hour) all plant parameters (from the control room and field) and other events in a book.
It also includes some regular lab samples (every hour) of the main streams.
When I have to go through the log, it's a pain. I have to re-type data into spreadsheet to compile, analyze or write reports. It takes me an hour a day.
This way I can easily search or make graphs, pin-point flaws etc.
I am just curious how you guys in modern pharmaceutical plants or refineries do this. I guess you have PLC/DCS with some software like Electronic LogBooks etc..

But even in modern plants, don't you have something like paper or PC based log book to log P, T, etc.. parameters for some units? And plant events ?
Thanks.

 

[MortenA]

I worked for a pharmaceutical plant (fermentation broth treatment) for a couple of years as a production chemist. We had a central control system from the early 80. This system collected data from a number of points but could only store for 1 day in the (limited) memory. Graphs was then printed.

Any event would be noted in a log book - and the most important task of the production chemist was to go through this book every day and sign out all events (and to take action where appropriate).

The later we got a system that could collect data from the control system (a diffirent system the actual control used proprietaire bus systems etc. that could not be updated and has been discontinued). This was great since we then could access all measured data instead of having to find the old printed graphs and read from them.

A funny story: I strated working there in 1999 and finished in 2001. The system was not "millenium proof". The solution: Turn back the system clock 8 years - so that week days and dates would match. All printing paper would then be celarly marked (pre-printed) that dates would be 8 years off. The system continued working like a charm

Best regards

Morten