This project explored the application of low-fidelity Decision Making Exercises to fill the gap in training simulators and directly target assessment, problem detection, and decision-making skills. These exercises were found to be both appropriate and very effective in our industry.
Danyele Harris Thompson of Applied Research Associates led a team to create and test the use of decision-making exercises, developed by the US Military, for FCC operators and pipeline controllers. This was the follow-on to the COP pilot project on expertise, showing decision making needs to be practiced in order to maintain proficiency. Several exercises were developed for each and a tutorial video created on how to facilitate the exercises.
Through our pilot study for the COP, we learned that existing training simulators (for those studied facilities) support training in many areas, but also have some training gaps in two key areas: Routine Monitoring and Critical Upsets. The pilot study also highlighted expert characteristics for FCC Console Operators and Pipeline Analysts that should be highlighted in training.
The overall goal of this effort was to provide and demonstrate a process for creating decision-based exercises that can be generalized across the process industry. The criteria for success included: scenarios that were difficult enough that a person knowledgeable of the task would struggle a bit; highly experienced operators come out of it learning something; and the same process can be used to create scenarios for different facilities, positions, and tasks.
Demonstrate the value and utility of scenario-based training for enhancing skill development for process control applications
The pilot effort focused on developing initial descriptions of expertise for control board operators. The project showed the prevalence of expertise among Crude Unit Console Operators, Fluid Catalytic (FCC) Console Operators, and Pipeline Analysts. It also began to highlight some novice gaps in expertise and some of the potential errors that may result from lack of knowledge.
As a result of the pilot study, recommendations were made in seven key areas, including on-the-job training, individual performance differences, team coordination, streamlining procedures, development of expertise, systems and technology, and scenario-based training. The scenario-based training recommendation focused on the need to supplement existing training simulators with low-fidelity (e.g., paper-and-pencil) Decision Making Exercises (DMXs). This recommendation directly addresses a gap in simulators that support some areas of performance (e.g., training on the use of interfaces) but do not fully represent the performance environment (e.g., diagnosis of events, decision making, and problem detection).
(1) Brief project summary; (2) Scenario template; and (3) Finalized scenarios; (4) DMX E-Book - This html e-book contains complete instructions for developing and facilitating DMX exercises. It also contains the final project report and four DMX exercises - two for pipeline controllers and two for FCC operators; (5) DMX Facilitation Tutorial - A video produced with the assistance of ABB, this video provides an overview of DMXs and instructions on how to facilitate. This is an excellent tool for demonstrating the usefulness of this low cost training tool.