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Q: Could you briefly explain your role and how it relates to the digitalisation of asset management?
Leo Pickford (LP): My role as Strategic Capability Executive in the Services function at Rolls-Royce involves me being at the forefront of developing new, innovative service capabilities. Working across the 3 business units at Rolls-Royce, I partner with multiple functions within the company and with external organisations, to identify opportunities to add value to services operations and initiate projects to deliver enhanced capability. A high proportion of the projects I lead have a digital element to them and this is where staying close to rapidly evolving technology trends whilst having a good understanding of each business unit is key to success.
Q: What are the main challenges you have faced implementing digital tools to support the reliability of equipment or infrastructure?
LP: There are many challenges associated with implementing digital tools, but the main ones I have encountered relate to the need to change mindsets from an old-fashioned IT delivery approach to one of digital innovation. This includes the obvious change from waterfall project delivery to an agile methodology, but there are many more subtle changes needed to enable success. This includes integrated cross-functional working, reaching critical mass of people with a digital mindset and the right culture around data integrity. Once you have a handle on these elements then you can start to ask the big questions and really unlock the opportunity for digital tools to help drive asset reliability.
Q: What is the most exciting data-driven development in the field of reliability at the moment?
LP: I would say that the work being done to develop digital twins of assets in service is starting to unlock a lot of value at the moment. Modelling the way that various aspects of operation can affect wear of components and asset performance is of real benefit to service operations and planning of maintenance interventions. The understanding that comes from the operational digital twin can also feed back into the design process and drive optimisation of the product.
Q: What are you hoping to address with your presentation at the seminar?
LP: I will be talking about the Intelligent Engine and Intelligent Services. These concepts have been developed as part of a comprehensive digital strategy for developing aero engine assets that are connected, contextually aware and comprehending of their surroundings. It’s an exciting concept, much of which is already in the process of being implemented at Rolls-Royce, but which could have application in a number of other industries.
Q: Which other speakers and topics on the programme are you most looking forward to, and why?
LP: First of all, I’m looking forward to the keynote presentation from Rhys Davies. The big strategic questions that I expect Rhys to pose are extremely important when it comes to digitalisation and ensuring alignment of digital strategy to business strategy is critical. I’m also looking forward to Simon Evans’ presentation on adopting a full-life digital twin approach. There are parallels to what we are doing at Rolls-Royce in this space and I am looking forward to comparing and contrasting experiences here.
Q: Why should a mechanical engineer attend a seminar on digitalisation?
LP: Digital technology has become a key part of engineering in every industry and is set to become more so. Digital solutions can improve efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, repeatability and whole system optimisation, to the point where businesses that don’t stay at the forefront will ultimately not be able to compete. The pace of change is now such that it is extremely important to stay linked in and to see what is going on across engineering as a whole. Having a good understanding of the possibilities and the benefits of digital technology make for the most effective engineers of our time.
Q: What innovations are you most interested in for the future?
LP: As digital twins become more commonplace and more highly developed, I’m hopeful that ever-improving levels of asset and system reliability will be possible, to the point where virtually nothing ever breaks down. The development of higher bandwidth data (5G) and the Internet of Things will open up further possibilities, as will new thinking around how systems of assets can work together effectively to deliver value. It’s an exciting future and as an engineer by background I’m keen to embrace the possibilities this opens up.
Asset Management: Reliability for a Digital Age takes place on 26 March 2020 at One Birdcage Walk in London. Join this seminar to:
- Learn about the application of data analytics to support design, operation, maintenance and life extension decisions
- Hear more about developments in digital asset management tools including digital twins to leverage large volumes of data and upgrade the reliability of your assets
- Benefit from a wide range of industry case studies from the aviation, power distribution, rail infrastructure, nuclear and renewable energy sectors
- Take part in peer-to-peer roundtables to set the tone for discussion and develop solutions for critical challenges
- Enjoy networking time throughout the day to meet new partners and build relationships which will drive your business forwards
To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/assetmanagement.