Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 42 | Page 76

INDUSTRY WATCH personnel to act appropriately in any given situation. EYESIM supports the capture and knowledge-transfer of best practices, increasing efficiency and reducing costly errors or maintenance. Peter Richmond, product manager for SimSci, said: “This is an exciting new technology and KOC is the first customer in the upstream industry in the Middle East to adopt it.” Ensuring safety is top priority It was very important that KOC created a ‘real world’ training experience for its young professionals before they go into the actual working plant environment. The 3D simulation provided by EYESIM promotes these workers’ self-confidence before they step foot into the plant. One of the aims of KOC is to build employee confidence through training. EYESIM provides this as well as enhances employee safety in the plant working environment. “EYESIM helps KOC prepare its professionals even before they step into new working environments. With the new EYESIM immersive technology, employees are familiarised with operations before they even do the actual work,” said Yacoub Al-Shatti, WITH THE NEW EYESIM IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY, EMPLOYEES ARE FAMILIARISED WITH OPERATIONS BEFORE THEY EVEN DO THE ACTUAL WORK Prior to EYESIM, KOC trained operators directly on the plant floor, which made it difficult to ensure that production was efficient and safe. Because operators have to be competent before being permitted to work in the plant, KOC chose to make an investment in employee training with the 3D EYESIM visualisation system, which familiarises them with the plant before they are taken on to the floor. EYESIM has established a successful personnel training programme that has resulted in fewer accidents and better safety, as well as reducing unplanned shutdowns. 76 INTELLIGENTCIO KOC training instructor. This provides a realistic virtual learning environment, which prepares personnel to act appropriately in any given situation. EYESIM supports the capture and knowledge-transfer of best practices, increasing efficiency and reducing costly errors or maintenance. Capture and knowledge transfer of best practices A key aspect driving this project is KOC’s retiring workforce. As operators leave KOC, its vital that the company is able to transfer the critical knowledge of the senior members of its workforce to the new incoming group of operators. This is critical to ensuring that the plant continues to operate safely and reliably. Al Farhoud said: “The Immersive Virtual Reality training from EYESIM helps give KOC personnel the skills needed to confidently and skillfully run our production processes.” With EYESIM, KOC captures the inherent value in the knowledge base of its workforce, integrating it into a comprehensive training programme that grows with the needs of the company. Thanks to SimSci, KOC is able to bring new technology to a new generation of employees. n www.intelligentcio.com