In June 2014, oil was averaging US$120/bbl. Over the last two years, until very recently, it has not been above US$60/bbl. There is what you can control, and there is what you cannot. Wisdom, as the saying goes, is knowing the difference, and in the world of midstream oil and gas, wisdom is making and breaking companies. 'Wise' midstream oil companies have recognized that, in the digital era, operational data has become a critical asset. When collected and made available in context, this data can reduce their 'controllable margins', guarantee their social license to operate, and ensure their survival amid a wave of mergers and acquisitions.
Year: 2018

Balanced Scorecard is a model for managing a business that was introduced by researchers Kaplan and Norton in the early 1990's. The goal is to use business strategy to drive business actions. While many industries have applied it, mining has had only mixed results with it and it is not as widely used in mining, metals, and materials as in other sectors. Given historical and recent challenges the mining, metals, and materials sector has faced, the next five to ten years could very well be the right time for the industry to get the most from the balanced scorecard approach.
Year: 2018

Since the industrial revolution first introduced the world to the concept of machine-based production and automation, industrial manufacturing has been asking itself the same question: how do we make things better, cheaper, and faster? Today, as we enter into what has been called the 4th industrial revolution — also known as Industry 4.0 or Smart Manufacturing — that question is as relevant as ever.
Year: 2018

OSIsoft recently held the EMEA Users Conference at Berlin, Germany. This insight covers Shell’s experience in successfully working alongside OSIsoft for improving its digital capabilities. Shell aims to transform its operations from reactive to predictive by recognizing data as an asset and deriving maximum value from it.
Year: 2016

Anglo American Platinum, a leader in refined platinum, produces around 37% of the world's platinum. Unfortunately, platinum extraction provides very small yields. Out of the 29.7 million tons of rock Anglo American Platinum mined in 2017, the company extracted only 78 tons of platinum. Each piece of platinum is smaller than a speck of dust – some are as small as 5 microns – so efficiency in the refinery process is crucial. To keep all Anglo American Platinum’s equipment up and running and maintain ingot quality assurance, the company collected operations data manually, which required many man-hours to extract from spreadsheets. After putting together a list of requirements for a new data platform, the mining producer opted to unroll the PI System as their digital transformation solution.
Year: 2019