Dr. Beth Crandall of Applied Research Associates conducted a follow-on of her pilot project examining how operators use environmental cues to make key decisions. Like the pilot, the results were inconclusive. While experience FCC operators were used, no pattern of cues could be established to troubleshoot three scenarios (catalyst coking, wet gas compressor upset, and water in feed). Operators preferred the use of trend deviation to spot problems than specific visual cues, although a lack of experience with the upsets used could have skewed the results.
Project goals are
(1) to take an initial look at cue utilization issues (Pilot Project);
(2) discover what ‘connecting the dots’ looks like from the operator’s perspective: What do they do in the face of emerging problems? What are they paying attention to? What guides/propels action? and
(3) examine possible expert-novice differences.
- Are there expert-novice differences in recognition of cues and patterns of cues that may signal emerging problems?
- Can we identify and describe specific cue sets that expert operators use to identify emerging problems?
- Are there contextual elements that may impact early detection of problems such as work setting features, system displays, and team components?
The pilot project examined console operators on an alkylation unit via interviews conducted with 7 operators (no observational data). The operators had limited experience on the alky board (1-3 years). The project did not provide a solid view of possible expert-novice differences; therefore, the COP requested this follow-on project.
- Critical cue/cue patterns used to troubleshoot process problems
- Variations in that use by experts versus novices