Maintenance Management at Fluxys
Increased safety, accurate reporting
“Perfectly maintained pipelines and equipment are crucial for the safety of the natural gas grid. Maintenance is therefore one of our primary tasks,” says Ivan Brysens, project leader at Fluxys. “We wanted to be able to properly anticipate the increasingly demanding safety standards imposed by public authorities. To achieve this, we required a uniform and systematic maintenance approach that could also be monitored centrally. Stork Asset Management Solutions helped us address this challenge and ensured a smooth implementation thanks to their clear communication.”
• Standardize your maintenance processes to reduce safety risks. Fluxys is responsible for the transport and storage of natural gas in Belgium. It is placed under the supervision of the CREG, the federal regulator. Fluxys employs approximately 1,000 people.
Lessons learned
• Put in place a well organized and centralized data management system that allows you to closely monitor your maintenance processes. This also adds precision to your reporting.
• Involve your staff at the earliest possible stages of the project. That way, changes are more readily accepted.
Fluxys
Uniform maintenance processes reduce risks
“For each type of equipment, we defined the preventive maintenance procedures that are necessary to ensure the safety,” explains Geert Hermans, project leader at Stork.“By means of an extensive pre-study, we mapped the daily operations and identified the processes that required standardizing and improvement. We then created five multi-disciplinary workgroups to establish maintenance best practices. These were then compiled in a Maintenance Business Blue Book.”
Central data management allows faster adjustments
A systematic approach also requires a precise follow-up of maintenance processes. Hermans: “In this respect, we worked out a central information system to manage all data. Our IT staff implemented all of the processes from the Blue Book into the Plant Maintenance module of our SAP software tool. From now on, all information related to installations, spare parts, working hours, and costs will be organized in exactly the same way for everyone. This makes it much easier to monitor and greatly enhances reporting reliability.” Brysens notes that the central management system also enables them to make adjustments much more rapidly.
Involvement right from the start for a smooth implementation
The success of a new maintenance system depends primarily upon the support it gets from its users. “That is why Stork attaches so much importance to good communication,” comments Brysens. “From the start, they have involved everyone in the project. By jointly discussing the maintenance processes, our staff immediately came to understand the importance of this project for safety.”
The introduction of the SAP software among users also went smoothly. “Because Stork is familiar with all aspects of maintenance, from knowledge of work floor processes to technical implementation, they were able to give appropriate guidance and training to all of our user groups. Our staff had no difficulties whatsoever in switching to the new system,” says a satisfied Brysens.
“Public authorities require a clear overview on the status of the natural gas grid at any given moment, particularly during crisis situations. Thanks to Stork Asset Management Solutions, we can now rely on a transparent and uniform information system for the maintenance of our entire network. This greatly contributes to the safety of all of our installations.” Ivan Brysens, Gas Installations & Grid SR Operations Staff Engineer, Fluxys