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Proper analysis of meaningful data is the key criteria to ensure the outcome of any sound decision. In an ever-changing multi-variable environment where decisions are required to be made on a continuous basis, the acquisition and analysis of data is critical in ensuring that the decision making process is informed and that decisions will result in the desired outcome. Process plant operations is one such field in which the dynamics of multi-variable systems continuously demand informed decisions at many levels in the organisation. As a result a key part of successful plant operations lies in the ability to reliably gather, historically store and analyse different types of data on a real time basis. Traditionally data acquisition has been done using paper log sheets and manual spreadsheets, which focuses more on documentation. As a result, the exercise of taking plant readings has become routine, to the point where the true benefit of the exercise is lost. The ability to extract meaningful data from this type of manual system is arduous, labour intensive and vastly inefficient. In addition, the filing of paper based systems makes acquiring historical data very difficult while long-term performance, acquired learning, and trends are lost over time. In a sector that demands efficiency, this type of data management system cannot support the demands of a fast-paced and decisive environment. It is with this in mind that Yara Trinidad Limited embarked in a change process to reform its process data management system. Incorporated in this change were not only operations field data but also all other data that is used for operational decision making.
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