Q: Please could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with regards to the your industry and this event?
Kevin Rayment, Network Rail (KR): I designed, manage and set the direction for Network Rail’s mandated process for how suppliers design reliability into every new and changed controlled product. This includes considerations covering the entire product life and whole life cost of ownership.
Lars Ulph, Akselos (LU): As the Sales Director for Northern Europe, my role is pivotal in driving the paradigm shift in how the Energy sector manages its critical assets, thanks to Akselos' patented Structural Performance Management technology. I'm deeply involved in showcasing Akselos' capabilities to key industry players, focusing on refineries, LNG terminals, and offshore assets like FPSOs and FLNGs. By integrating real-time data into mathematically optimised, physics-driven digital twins, we're setting new standards in asset structural management, providing the most precise insights into asset integrity ever achieved.
Neil Arthur, Harbour Energy (NA): I am Maintenance Strategy Lead at Harbour Energy with over 30 years’ experience in Asset Management, Maintenance and Integrity in the Energy and Maritime industries.
Christina Latsou, Cranfield University (CL): As a Lecturer in Smart Manufacturing within the Centre for Digital Engineering and Manufacturing at Cranfield University, my research focuses on complex systems modelling, including lifecycle cost modelling, simulation and optimisation. My expertise lies in dynamic modelling to address challenges across various sectors including aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, with the aim of improving performance and resource efficiency.
One of the main objectives of our research team is to optimise maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) costs throughout the lifecycle of complex engineering assets. While proactive maintenance strategies are essential, uncertainties in asset performance pose significant challenges. To address this challenge, we collaborate closely with industry partners to develop innovative approaches for lifecycle cost estimation, integrating reliability life data analysis. Our research highlights the importance of continuous feedback loops to refine lifecycle cost estimates, ensuring robustness throughout the asset lifecycle. Furthermore, we emphasise that any optimisation model for the cost-reliability trade-off should also consider safety and environmental sustainability requirements to provide a truly cost-effective reliability solution. In the upcoming event, I will share practical examples and case studies from our research.
Q: What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
KR: How to further incorporate reliability into the existing processes of specific industrial sectors and how to overcome the challenges of broadcasting the message of the importance of reliability to a company’s suppliers.
LU: At this year's conference, I'm particularly thrilled to delve into the transformative impact of Akselos’s engineering simulation technology. We're not just talking about incremental improvements; we're discussing a seismic shift in reducing risks, enhancing operational efficiencies, and significantly extending asset lifespans. The spotlight will be on our advanced applications in design optimisation, operational value enhancement, and pioneering asset life extension strategies. Our approach embodies a comprehensive, detail-oriented modelling process, emphasising data integration and stringent standards compliance to deliver the world's most accurate structural digital twins.
NA: I am looking forward to the roundtable discussion on safety concerns impacting asset efficiency and performance; the future of design and AI / ML; data collection for design improvement.
CL: I am looking forward to engage in discussions surrounding design for reliability methodologies and the integration of emerging technologies into asset reliability strategies. These topics have the potential to shape the future of asset management practices and drive innovation across industries.
Q: Regarding the utilisation of technology, what would you say are the technologies or applications to watch for the future?
KR: I believe that safe, reliable, cheap, environmentally friendly, efficient, low-weight, compact, energy storage is key to a vast array of technologies.
LU: Looking to the future, the advent of Akselos's patented RB-FEA technology marks a watershed moment in realising the full potential of Digital Twins. For years, the ambition to create fully detailed, holistic models of critical assets that could leverage today's vast data pools seemed out of reach. Now, these technologies are not just a possibility but a reality, offering predictive maintenance, accurate risk-based maintenance programs, and a new horizon in design optimisation. These advancements are set to redefine our industry standards, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible.
NA: AI / ML and the use of operational phase data from e.g. maintenance management system.
CL: Looking ahead, new technologies hold the promise of transforming asset management practices. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning stand out as key advancements, offering predictive capabilities that could revolutionise maintenance scheduling and optimisation processes. Digital twins also show great potential, providing virtual replicas of assets to facilitate continuous monitoring and improvements in operations. Additionally, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality applications could enhance training and maintenance activities, making them more interactive and effective. These advancements have the potential to enhance the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of asset management across various industries.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
KR: It allows for sharing of ideas and lessons regarding how to save money and improve performance for their businesses. This is particularly relevant now in times of increasing costs due to inflationary pressures.
LU: The importance of this conference for engineers cannot be overstated. We're at a crossroads in engineering and operational methodology, driven by unprecedented advancements in computing power and mathematical modelling. These shifts are redefining our work, priorities, and competitive landscape. Staying ahead of the curve is no longer optional; it's imperative. Adopting technologies like Akselos' Structural Performance Management solution is essential for any engineer looking to grasp these exponential gains and understand how Akselos is revolutionising our approach to asset management and operational excellence.
NA: Increasingly, the ability to communicate reliability considerations in terms of economic impact is essential, especially for design phase projects.
CL: I am hoping to encourage engineers to participate in this conference, as it provides a valuable opportunity to engage with industry representatives, sparking discussions that drive innovation. Networking opportunities abound, fostering collaborations that advance projects and initiatives.
The Asset Management 2024: Designing for Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability conference will be taking place on 26-27 March at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. Join this event to:
- Gain insight into how to achieve an optimal level of reliability and maintainability in cross sector asset management
- Comprehend the importance of considering reliability from the early design stages
- Understand how reliability is achieved, managed, and demonstrated in production and operation
- Network with other attendees from a variety of different industries and share experiences
- Learn how to effectively and efficiently manage your systems, products, and equipment to maintain reliability
To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/assetmanagement.