MOCs implementation & operations role

[jeem]

While process engineers help in engineering the changes, and the maintenance comes in to execute, and in all this how can operations engineers improve management of change (MOC) effectiveness at field level?

[neo]

There is a lot where Operations come in to support changes implementation at field level.
First, there is no other party which can challenge the executor to bring in the approval if it applies for a permit to implement any change. And to me, this becomes the most important thing as this is the only barrier preventing any executor to execute a change without proper approval and documentation.
Then the kind of inputs which normally comes from Operations Engineers is unique, practical, and cannot be generally found in process parameters, and trends. Take the case of an actual emergency handling during a process upset.
Operations Engineers should be one of the subject matter experts for all the proposed changes no matter it is related to their actual operations philosophy or not as the change may impact the way they operate the plant and should at the minimum reflect in the procedures they operate on.
In my opinion, I would rate Operations Engineer as the Reality Checker for any MOC.

[opo21]

While considering to improve the effectiveness at field level, following should be considered by Operations Engineers:
1. MOC field walkdowns,
2. Temporary modification registry audits
3. Pre-startup operator readiness reviews
4. Alarm impact reviews
5. Line-of-fire reviews after changes
6. SIMOPS risk identification
7. Startup risk monitoring
8. Procedure verification
9. Field labelling audits
10. Post-MOC lessons learned sessions