The Importance of Management of Change Software

what is management of change (MOC)?

“The employer shall establish and implement written procedures to manage changes (except for “replacements in kind”) to process chemicals, technology, equipment and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process.”
Here are some bad excuses for not following an MOC process which leads to process safety incidents.

  But I am not making a real modification. I am just making it a little better.
• I am so far behind I can’t start doing MOC. I’ll never catch up with all of those unrevised drawings.”
• I don’t have time to wait for the MOC evaluation. This is an emergency!
• Routing this form for approval takes so long we can never get anything done.
• But my area manager already has to approve funds for changes.
• We are a warehouse / light manufacturing / data center / repair facility. … We don’t have anything that could be dangerous.
• But MOC won’t catch every possible problem, so why do it?
• This is just a software/procedure change. It’s not like we were changing a pipe or something. We don’t need to approve or document.

  A well-designed MOC process is an essential loss prevention tool for any business. It is not just for certain hazardous industries. The process applies to any company that wishes to avoid future losses resulting from today’s changes. MOC does not have to be overwhelming or so difficult to use that it inhibits change. It cannot effortlessly compensate for past omissions, only reduce your future risk. So, the time to start developing and implementing an effective and efficient MOC process is today.

 Since every business has different areas of risk exposure and different tolerance of undesired consequences, it is up to each business to assess risk and define its tolerance for uncontrolled change. A few (but by no means all inclusive) examples of the sorts of changes a business may wish to manage are:

• Addition of new process equipment or critical business system (including software)
• “Not in kind” replacement of process equipment or parts
• Modifications or minor additions to process equipment
• Modifications or minor additions to critical business system (procedural or software)
• Modifications or minor additions to infrastructure/non-process equipment
• Changes to process control and/or instrumentation (includes control strategies)
• Changes in specifications or sourcing of technical MRO
• Changes in critical process parameter operating limits (outside of ranges specified in standard operating procedures [SOPs])
• Alterations to safety systems (interlocks, shutdowns, fire or explosion suppression, etc.)
• Revisions to standard operating procedures (including emergency procedures)
• Changes in site-level organizational structure
• Changes to maintenance procedures
• Changes in raw material/component specifications or sourcing
• Alterations or new connections to utilities systems (air, electrical, gas, water, steam, etc.).
• Alterations or new connections to critical data networks
• Changes to QA procedures or critical test equipment

A few hours of quality “what if” brainstorming by a multi-disciplinary team early in the process design to develop the definitions and examples that are right for your business will pay huge dividends.
iProcess MOC

iProcess MOC is a web-based collaboration and workflow software designed to manage changes systematically in process chemicals, technology, equipment, facilities, or procedures. It tracks all planned changes through a series of checklists, Workflow phases to ensure your business is fully prepared to implement any operational or organizational change. This application is ideal for those subject to OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements, as well as those interested in PSM management of change software as part of a best practices management approach.

KEY FEATURES

• Implement any kind of change.
• Create unlimited workflow templates with customizable steps, Tasks and People, Define your own workflow action and rules.
• Link Documents, Equipment, P& ID’s
• Set up Flexible People Review Structure ( Parallel, Sequential, Any individual or Group review)
• Enforce completion of Critical tasks at any Step with in MOC process
• Manage Temporary Changes
• Seamless email notifications during the life cycle of MOC including reminder emails.
• Create your own email templates for each event with in MOC
• Standard reports and customize your own reports
• Implement any type of changes including Not in Kind Equipment, Process, procedures, technology, Organizational changes and many more
• Common Tracker Module to track all action items from iprocess Apps
• Create unlimited checklists including PSSR, PHA and others
• Attach Checklists to Approvers, Tasks implementers
• Attach standard and custom forms to any Step within the workflow
• Control access to data based on user roles and permissions
• Visual Display of workflow chart and workflow steps.
• Dashboard with graphical charts
• Easy to use web based application developed based on powerful Microsoft .Net Technology and Microsoft SQL Server Database.

 ABOUT iProcess
iProcess Data System provides web & tablet based enterprise software applications that enhances Safety, Productivity and Compliance in heavily regulated and high risk chemical, energy, oil & gas and construction companies.
Focused Areas
Process Safety Management, Environmental Safety, Operational Excellence, Reliability Centered Maintenance

 

Understading How Electronic Procedures improves the Procedure Usage?

What is a standard operating Procedure?

A standard operating procedure, or SOP, is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply to industry regulations.

Reasons for poor procedure usage by the operators in the field.

•  Inconsistencies between procedures
•  Procedures are not up to date due to lack of MOC process
•  Lack of procedure training
• Too much text in action steps.
• Supporting information limitations
• Variances between procedure writers
• Lack of Human factors analysis.

 Limitations with the current SOP writing methodology

Currently the standard operating procedures are written using Microsoft word document which has a serious limitation because procedure authors make mistakes by wasting time in formatting the document versus focusing on the content/intent of the procedure. Since each author follows his own formatting style it is difficult to achieve standardization. Also, making common change across all procedures takes a long period of time

iProcess Electronic Procedures System (Better & Smarter Procedures)

• By using electronic procedures database, you can eliminate all the issues mentioned above. At iProcess we have developed a web & tablet based electronic procedure management system where authors can focus on the content and leave the formatting & standardization to the software system.

• Critical procedure steps will be presented in step-executable format on handheld devices in the field, and in much the same way pilots check off steps for crucial portions of flight operations, plant operations personnel will consistently and uniformly execute process operations in the agreed and approved “one best way.”

• Operators’ procedure ownership and procedure maintenance is strengthened because they can easily spot procedure deficiencies, or opportunities for improvement, on the spot, and submit change requests in the field which can be subsequently acted upon more promptly. They will thereby be more motivated to follow the procedures for which their input was valued and incorporated in their more usable documents

 KEY FEATURES
• Using iProcess editor you can easily configure templates and achieve consistency.
• Authors can focus on the content and the software system will produce the views.
• Integrated Management of Change
• Easily batch update procedure content using re-usable objects.
• Download procedures on your tablets (i-Pad, Android) and execute the procedures in the field.
• Submit change requests in the filed using your tablet device.
• Integrate your operating limits at the step level.
• Standard reports and customize your own reports
• Seamless email notifications during the life cycle of MOC including reminder emails.
• Easily manage annual review and certification process.
• Easy to use web based application developed based on powerful Microsoft .Net Technology and Microsoft SQL Server Databas

 ABOUT iProcess: 

iProcess Data System provides web & tablet based enterprise software applications that enhances Safety, Productivity and Compliance in heavily regulated and high risk chemical, energy, oil & gas and construction companies. 

iProcess focused areas are Process Safety management, Environmental Safety, Operational Excellence, Reliability Centered Maintenance
iProcess goal is to work with our Customers in Oil & Gas, Chemical & Construction Industries.

.