Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Using Visualization to Identify and Resolve Repeated Field Safety Inspection Findings

Challenge    My challenge was to properly identify, classify and resolve repeated field safety inspection  findings for one of our proponent department (stakeholder). In my unit, our engineers  conduct daily field safety inspections at our proponent hydrocarbon facilities and log all their  findings in a dedicated system. Then the system sends notifications to our proponent on all  these findings in order for them to resolve. We conduct an average of 80 field inspections per  month, a total of 960 per year. A large number of findings keeps adding to the system. Despite  of regular follow-ups that we conduct to ensure all items are addressed and closed, we found  that there are some findings that keeps repeating on a monthly or quarterly basis.     Selection     I realized that the proponent is overwhelmed with the large number of findings received and  getting difficulties in classifying them and giving them the right amount of time and attention.  Therefore, I decided to select the visualization tool as my reflection subject. It is an easy tool  to apply and understand with great impact and results. It will help me to group and classify  findings based on their nature and criticality (High, Medium or Low) and represent them using  simple graphics, symbols and colors rather than just having it as a massive data in the system.  This will help the proponent to visualize them in a focused manner and plan for proper  resources to address them and avoid them to be repeated. Also, to clearly communicate them  to their staff.    Application      I started to apply the tool by reviewing and analyzing the findings for that proponent for a  whole quarter (three months). Then I started looking for trends and repeated findings. I used  a flip chart and draw three rectangular symbols to classify the criticality of our safety finding.  The first was titled “High Risk”, the second “Medium Risk” and the third “Low Risk”. Then I  color coded them, the high was ‘Red’, the medium was ‘Yellow’ and the low was ‘Green’. This  was to help our proponent to visualize each category of findings and to plan their actions  accordingly. Then, I established the Criteria of classifying each finding on another flip chart.  Then, under each rectangular symbol I connected three round symbols. Each round symbol  represented the most repeated finding for the proponent. Simultaneously, I developed  PowerPoint slides representing the same graphics on my flipcharts to be shared with the  proponent by email. I also visited the proponent’s three foremen who were having these  repeated findings in their facilities to understand why it gets repeated. With this information  and using root cause analysis technique, I was able to identify many factors that contributed  to the repeated findings. I then used another flip chart to list these items.    Then, I scheduled a meeting and workshop that was attended by the proponent foremen,  operation team, maintenance team, planning representative and my unit engineers. I  presented all the flipcharts that I prepared earlier so they can visualize their first quarter  findings with a different perspective by classifying them into High, Medium and Low Risk

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

items. The color coding also helped in this step. Then, they were distributed into three groups,  each one handling a classification category. The exercise was that each group discuss the  repeated findings and the underlying cause for it and then share the results in front of  everyone. Moreover, to propose an action plan to prevent repeated findings once the data  were properly analyzed and visualized. Finely, each group was tasked to communicated this  back to their staff in order realize, understand and visualize the criticality of these findings  and the importance of closing them effectively to avoid any incidents or injuries or property  damages. The tool was effectively implemented and had excellent impact on the proponent’s  outcomes.     Insight    I was glad to apply the visualization tool to resolve my challenge and have learned more about  it as I progressed in my challenge. It is a simple but powerful tool that allows large or  complicated data or findings to be displayed and perceived in a much-effected manner with  better understanding. Also, how using this tool allowed all level of proponent representatives  to properly analyze such large data and had common understanding of the issues and ways  to resolve them with appropriate resources. The developed diagrams, graphs, charts, color  coding used allowed the different groups to interact positively during the exercise since the  presented data were more appealing, focused and easy to see the trends. After the exercise,  all groups had common understanding of the problem and the solution.     Approach    I believe the visualization tool was very effective for my challenge and took us toward  resolving the issue. I might try the mind mapping tool next time for a one-year data collected  and involve more disciplines and personnel in order to have a more comprehensive data  analysis and propose sustainable solution.


Saudi Aramco : Company General Use Using Visualization to Identify and Resolve Repeated Field Safety Inspection Findings Challenge My challenge was to properly identify , classify and resolve repeated field safety inspection findings for one of our proponent department ( stakeholder ) . In my unit , our engineers conduct daily field safety inspections at our proponent hydrocarbon facilities and log all their findings in a dedicated system . Then the system sends notifications to our proponent on all these findings in order for them to resolve . We conduct an average of 80 field inspections per month , a total of 960 per year . A large number of findings keeps adding to the system . Despite of regular follow - ups that we conduct to ensure all items are addressed and closed , we found that there are some findings that keeps repeating on a monthly or quarterly basis . Selection I realized that the proponent is overwhelmed with the large number of findings received and getting difficulties in classifying them and giving them the right amount of time and attention . Therefore , I decided to select the visualization tool as my reflection subject . It is an easy tool to apply and understand with great impact and results . It will help me to group and classify findings based on their nature and criticality ( High , Medium or Low ) and represent them using simple graphics , symbols and colors rather than just having it as a massive data in the system . This will help the proponent to visualize them in a focused manner and plan for proper resources to address them and avoid them to be repeated . Also , to clearly communicate them to their staff . Application I started to apply the tool by reviewing and analyzing the findings for that proponent for a whole quarter ( three months ) . Then I started looking for trends and repeated findings . I used a flip chart and draw three rectangular symbols to classify the criticality of our safety finding . The first was titled “ High Risk ” , the second “ Medium Risk ” and the third “ Low Risk ” . Then I color coded them , the high was ‘ Red ’ , the medium was ‘ Yellow ’ and the low was ‘ Green ’ . This was to help our proponent to visualize each category of findings and to plan their actions accordingly . Then , I established the Criteria of classifying each finding on another flip chart . Then , under each rectangular symbol I connected three round symbols . Each round symbol represented the most repeated finding for the proponent . Simultaneously , I developed PowerPoint slides representing the same graphics on my flipcharts to be shared with the proponent by email . I also visited the proponent ’s three foremen who were having these repeated findings in their facilities to understand why it gets repeated . With this information and using root cause analysis technique , I was able to identify many factors that contributed to the repeated findings . I then used another flip chart to list these items . Then , I scheduled a meeting and workshop that was attended by the proponent foremen , operation team , maintenance team , planning representative and my unit engineers . I presented all the flipcharts that I prepared earlier so they can visualize their first quarter findings with a different perspective by classifying them into High , Medium and Low Risk Saudi Aramco : Company General Use items . The color coding also helped in this step . Then , they were distributed into three groups , each one handling a classification category . The exercise was that each group discuss the repeated findings and the underlying cause for it and then share the results in front of everyone . Moreover , to propose an action plan to prevent repeated findings once the data were properly analyzed and visualized . Finely , each group was tasked to communicated this back to their staff in order realize , understand and visualize the criticality of these findings and the importance of closing them effectively to avoid any incidents or injuries or property damages . The tool was effectively implemented and had excellent impact on the proponent ’s outcomes . Insight I was glad to apply the visualization tool to resolve my challenge and have learned more about it as I progressed in my challenge . It is a simple but powerful tool that allows large or complicated data or findings to be displayed and perceived in a much - effected manner with better understanding . Also , how using this tool allowed all level of proponent representatives to properly analyze such large data and had common understanding of the issues and ways to resolve them with appropriate resources . The developed diagrams , graphs , charts , color coding used allowed the different groups to interact positively during the exercise since the presented data were more appealing , focused and easy to see the trends . After the exercise , all groups had common understanding of the problem and the solution . Approach I believe the visualization tool was very effective for my challenge and took us toward resolving the issue . I might try the mind mapping tool next time for a one - year data collected and involve more disciplines and personnel in order to have a more comprehensive data analysis and propose sustainable solution .