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Beamex customer case story

Salt River Project, United States

How one of America’s largest public power utilities implemented an all-encompassing integrated calibration solution

Beamex / Case stories / Salt River Project, United States | Beamex CMX case story

Summary

For more than a century, Salt River Project (SRP) has produced power and delivered water to meet the needs of its customers in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Today, as one of the nation’s largest public power utilities, SRP provides reliable electricity and
water to more than 1 million customers and employs around 4,500 people. In order to produce power, including generation, transmission and distribution, to this 2,900 square mile service area, SRP uses a combination of hydro, gas turbine, coal fired, nuclear, solar, geothermal and wind generation. Furthermore, SRP is the largest water supplier in the Phoenix metropolitan area, responsible for water transmission and distribution for a 375 square mile service area while managing a 13,000 square mile watershed. This water production, transmission and distribution includes an extensive system of reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals.

With this software integration project, we were able to realize a significant return on investment during the first unit overhaul. It’s unusual, since ROI on software projects is usually nonexistent at first.

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Jody Damron, Business Analyst, Salt River Project, US

The most significant impact overall is that Salt River Project has been able to save about 30 minutes per calibration using an automated approach. Calibration tasks that would normally take a month to two months to complete during a unit overhaul can be performed in a few weeks, and time is money.

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Jody Damron, Business Analyst, Salt River Project, US

30 min

Time saved per calibration using an automated approach

Beamex MC6 high-accuracy field calibrator and communicator

1000 hrs

Overall amount of man-hours saved after implementing the new solution

Beamex Integrated Calibration Solution

ROI

Significant realization of ROI during the first unit overhaul

Beamex CMX Calibration Software

SRP

Small steps for a big evolution

In 2005, Jody Damron, a Business Analyst at SRP’s corporate headquarters in Tempe, Arizona was a member of the International Society of Automation (ISA) Executive Committee. While attending an ISA conference, Jody was introduced to Beamex CMX calibration management software during a technical “how to” presentation.

He recognized the importance of the increased functionality that calibration software offered over and beyond the current set up. At the site, his technicians reviewed it and also saw the value, they especially liked the user-friendliness along with the ability to capture more information than they could with Access.

Beamex CMX calibration management software in use

Continuing problems

Jody, IT and a Maximo contractor were tasked with replicating all of the Access application functions along with instrument and control data into the corporate work management system, Maximo. It was a difficult project, but the team was able to duplicate most of the functionality they used in Access.

Major accomplishments included more secure data, improved calibration reporting capabilities, less stressful state audit reports, links to drawings, documented DCS points, asset data comparison, a better governance process, and more detailed instrument meter data. However, there were still inefficiencies, costs were high and significant manual oversight was required.

Beamex CMX calibration management system

Need for a better solution

In 2012, Jody became the generation Business Unit Representative with the responsibilities of leading the generation team and interfacing with IT to implement Maximo and SAP. This project partnered the instrument shop’s valuable experience with the IT developers to meet business requirements.

Maximo was upgraded from version 5.2 to 7.5, which included a new “built-in” calibration module. The technicians tried using the Maximo calibration system, but they pushed for CMX to be integrated into Maximo because they needed a calibration software that offered more comprehensive features.

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Jody Damron

Summary & Results

Close attention to detail and building a trusted, quality project team both internally and from their vendors were crucial factors to SRP’s many successes. As a result, Jody explains, “With this software integration project, we were able to realize a significant return on investment during the first unit overhaul. It’s unusual, since ROI on software projects is usually nonexistent at first.”

The most significant impact overall is that Salt River Project has been able to save about 30 minutes per calibration using an automated approach. This equates up to 1,000 man-hours in the previously cited unit overhaul example. Further savings are anticipated as history analysis will confirm that extended calibration intervals are recommended. It is important to note that SRP’s work order history for calibration is 100% automated and technicians never work in Maximo.

Beamex MC6 process calibrator and PGM calibration pump

Project review

Throughout this process, Jody notes some key factors he recommends to keep in mind when implementing a calibration process change:

  • Do not compromise data integrity.
  • Build a solid team.
  • Set realistic timelines.
  • Set expectations and interpretation guidelines.
  • Document the business process.
  • Build a governance process.
  • Support the new process.
Beamex CMX Calibration management software

Major benefits of the automated calibration solution

  • System oversight has been minimized.
  • Audits are easy to perform and are less stressful.
  • Defined calibration procedures provide a corporate “best practices” approach to calibration.
  • Better decision making because of accurate data.
  • In the simplest terms, the new Beamex/Maximo calibration system gives back time to the people working in the field.

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