Chemical Processing Distilled

Chemical Processing Distilled episodes:

• 06.21.2024

  Hackers Target Manufacturing For Intellectual Property, Money -- Guest Episode

  Hackers are targeting manufacturing to leverage intellectual property for big money. In a recent episode of Automation Chat, from Chemical Processing's sister publication The Journal from Rockwell Automation, Teresa Houck, executive editor and host of Automation Chat, digs deep into...

  
• 06.14.2024

  Operator Training Do’s and Don’ts

   Operator training hasn’t really changed in the past 50 years, relying heavily on on-the-job training with experienced operators as instructors. However, these operators often lack formal training in teaching methods and techniques. In this episode, we highlight the potential benefits...

  
• 06.07.2024

  Management: Keep Cool When Thawing Projects

  In this ICYMI episode Amanda Joshi, managing editor, reads a column from Dirk Willard on project management. Filed and forgotten, that’s the fate of too many proposals I’ve had to work on. Usually, they relate to somebody’s pet project, an itch...

  
• 05.31.2024

  Drawbacks of Single-Use Tech; Digitalization for Greener Good; ACC’s First-Ever Sustainability Report

  In this episode, Jonathan Katz, executive editor of Chemical Processing, talks about the top stories in May 2024. We learn that you can’t fight climate change without chemistry, the rise of biological drugs is driving explosive growth in the single-use...

  
• 05.24.2024

  8 Accidental Discoveries that Advanced the Chemical Industry

  Bob Ross isn’t the only one to have happy accidents. Accidental discoveries have significantly advanced the chemical industry and led to numerous groundbreaking innovations. These serendipitous findings have often paved the way for the development of new materials, processes and applications...

  
• 05.17.2024

  A Better Way To Zero In On Chemical Ingredients

  Time is critical when tracking down hazardous substances. Whether it’s trying to mitigate safety incidents before they happen, comply with applicable safety and environmental regulations, or gather all the pertinent information during an emergency involving a chemical spill, fire or...

  
• 05.10.2024

  Beware of Blending Myths in Chemical Processing

  The problem with particulate solids is they segregate every time we turn around. Why? Because they are a two-phase material and only about half is the solid we’re interested in. As a troubleshooter at corporate engineering, the most common call...

  
• 05.03.2024

  Chemical Industry news for the week of April 29, 2024

  In the news this week: The U.S. EPA finalizes methylene chloride ban; Plastics Treaty negotiations wrap up in Ottawa; and Dow and BASF report lower Q1 sales.

  
• 04.12.2024

  How Storytelling Improves Operator Performance

  In this episode, we explore the importance of storytelling in the chemical industry. From knowledge capture and transfer to making technical information understandable and engaging, storytelling aids in retaining tacit knowledge and contextual understanding and enhances employee engagement.

  
• 04.05.2024

  Solutions Spotlight: How Smarter Vacuum Pumps Drive Sustainability in Chemical Plants

  In the chemical industry, digitalization and emissions monitoring are pressing operational challenges. While exploring the technological innovations behind these trends, attention often shifts to advanced software and precision sensing technologies. But the critical components that ensure the smooth operation of...

  
• 04.05.2024

  Chemical Processing News for the Week of April 5

  This week’s news roundup examines the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and how it could impact the chemical supply chain. We also learn that several U.S. oil companies are following in the footsteps of Dow by...

  
• 03.29.2024

  ICYMI Project Management: Workflows Matter

  In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, I will be reading an article from Andrew Sloley, Chemical Processing’s Plant InSites columnist. This column “Project Management: Workflows Matter” was published on our website on...

  
• 03.20.2024

  Chemical Processing News Week of March 18, 2024

  Executive Editor Jonathan Katz catches us up on what's new in the chemical industry.

  
• 03.15.2024

  Operator Training: Remove Team Performance Barriers

  Research on team performance barriers finds that fatigue, workload, competing priorities, conflicting information, and lack of technical expertise are significant hurdles. Psychological safety is crucial for effective team environments, allowing individuals to speak up and admit uncertainty without fear of...

  
• 03.08.2024

  Solutions Spotlight: Coriolis Meters Eliminate Assumptions

  The combination of high accuracy, versatility, direct mass measurement and minimal maintenance requirements make Coriolis meters suitable for various industrial applications. Unlike volumetric flow meters, Coriolis meters directly measure mass flow, making them less susceptible to variations in temperature, pressure and...

  
• 03.07.2024

  Chemical Processing News for week of March 3, 2024

  This news roundup ponders an elevator to space and questions Chemours ethics. 

  
• 02.28.2024

  Distilled Chemical News Roundup February 2024

  Exxon looks to balance fossil fuels with sustainability,  Didion execs sentenced and yellow snow for battery recycling. This news roundup covers the chemical industry in February 2024.

  
• 02.16.2024

  Manage Upsets to Safely Bring the Plant to a Stable Condition

  Upsets are going to happen, so why not plan for it? Learn how. In this episode of Distilled, we discuss managing upsets and distinguishing between shutdown-related and non-shutdown upsets. Dave points out a lot has changed over the years. Indeed, the...

  
• 02.02.2024

  Properly Vet Contractors ICYMI

  In today’s episode, Traci Purdum will be reading a column from contributing editor Dirk Willard. This column “Properly Vet Contractors” was published to chemicalprocessing.com October 19, 2021. Engineers once flew around the country to check out contractors’ facilities before signing deals....

  
• 01.23.2024

  Chemical Industry News Roundup January 2024

  A sobering look at the economy, PFAS regulations continue, blue-ringed octopus key to sustainable energy, and black-mass recycling. All news found here: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/industrynews Read by Executive Editor Jonathan Katz. 

  
• 01.19.2024

  Faster Ways To Train Chemical Operators

  The discussion revolves around operator training efficiency in the industry. Despite decades of training, companies often lack feedback on its effectiveness. New technologies like simulators and virtual reality offer objective ways to measure and improve training. Identifying and addressing deficiencies...

  
• 12.22.2023

  Career Advice: Master Cold Calls

  Welcome to the In Case You Missed It edition of Chemical Processing’s Distilled Podcast -- This podcast and its transcript can be found at chemicalprocessing.com. I’m Traci Purdum, EIC of Chemical Processing. In Case You Missed It brings the written word...

  
• 12.20.2023

  Correctly Cope With Career Challenges

  Predicaments can crop up at all stages of a chemical engineering career. Properly dealing with them without serious consequences often isn’t easy or sometimes even possible. You may face ethical as well as technical and political challenges. So, let’s look...

  
• 12.08.2023

  How To Avoid Alarm Rationalization Mistakes

  In this episode we focus on alarm rationalization mistakes, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying problems rather than just managing the steady-state alarm rate. The discussion highlights the need for a clear operator action for each alarm, uniqueness in alarms,...

  
• 11.21.2023

  Does Font Size Matter?

  In this episode of Chemical Processing's Distilled Podcast, host Traci Purdum and guest Dave Strobhar, founder of Beville Engineering, discuss the importance of font size in operator training. They highlight concerns related to small font sizes on computer monitors used...

  
• 11.13.2023

  Solutions Spotlight: Avoid Data Overload For Better Equipment Health

  In the chemical industry, understanding the health of rotating equipment is crucial for safety and productivity. Regular inspections, compliance with regulations and proactive maintenance are vital for equipment reliability. Ares Panagoulias, the director of condition monitoring and test lab at...

  
• 11.09.2023

  Operator Training: Unlock Efficiency, Enhance Safety By Reducing Emergency Procedures

  In this episode, Traci and Dave discuss the importance of reducing emergency procedures in chemical processing for better operator training and performance. They explore the benefits of streamlining procedures, emphasizing that about 90% of emergency steps are common across various...

  
• 10.17.2023

  Low-Cost Ways to Improve Operator Decision-Making

  Helping operators learn from past incidents and use pattern recognition to make better decisions faster will improve safety and efficiency.

  
• 10.10.2023

  Solution Spotlight: Looking Inward at Chemical Industry Emissions

  SICK AG's David Inward on Chemical Industry Emissions Monitoring 

  
• 09.14.2023

  Podcast: Expert Insights on Calculating Operator Needs in The Chemical Industry

  In this podcast episode, Dave Strobhar discusses an innovative approach to calculating operator needs and the impact of automation on staffing in the process industry. He emphasizes the importance of assessing the consequences of tasks not being performed rather than...

  
• 09.05.2023

  Chemical Processing Notebook: PFAS Regulations and the Supply Chain

  Chemical Processing Notebook is a new column and associated podcast presenting talking points from various industry experts on a wide range of topics. This first CP Notebook column focuses on the impact PFAS regulations are having on the supply chain,...

  
• 08.26.2023

  Episode 30 Podcast: Unlocking Effective Alarm Management

  In this episode, we're tackling the misconceptions around alarm targets and operator workload. Dave Strobhar debunks the myth that hitting a specific alarm target means operators are maxed out. He emphasizes that these targets are tools to assess alarm systems,...

  
• 08.08.2023

  Solution Spotlight: Race-Ready Project Development Gives Chemical Plants an Edge

  In the evolving world of chemical processing, companies face a formidable challenge as they strive to keep pace with ever-evolving industry demands, develop novel formulations and deliver innovative products to market. Meeting customer needs often requires adjustments to production processes,...

  
• 07.14.2023

  Solution Spotlight: Alternative Fuels Pose Flow-Metering Challenges

  The physical properties of hydrogen differ highly from other gases. Plant operators are therefore faced with major challenges due to the necessary adaptations that need to be made. To help us understand the challenges and options available, Chemical Processing spoke with Frank...

  
• 05.31.2023

  Podcast: Study Reveals Advanced Process Control Can Degrade Operator Skills

  In this podcast episode, Traci and Dave discuss a study that shows advanced process control (APC) can lead to a degradation of operator skills. The study found that after just a week of using APC, there was a 10% loss...

  
• 05.15.2023

  Solution Spotlight: Process Monitoring Maintains Productivity, Mitigates Downtime

  Analytical equipment needs to be robust, reliable and responsive in order to detect change and enable corrective action. It also should be easy to use and provide high uptime. When considering process organics monitoring, there’s a lot to unpack. To help...

  
• 05.07.2023

  Solutions Spotlight: Proper Communication Devices Are the Key to Safety

  Keeping workers safe in hazardous environments requires constant communication. Add to the equation that many locations are also harsh industrial settings means ensuring the right communication equipment is appropriately rated while providing the needed functionality is paramount. To better understand how...

  
• 10.26.2022

  Podcast: Cybersecurity Requires Teamwork And Dispelling The Air Gap Myth

  In this final episode of our three-part cybersecurity series with Matt Malone, ICS/OT cybersecurity consultant at Yokogawa, we talk about team strategy and old notions.  

  
• 10.19.2022

  Podcast: Cybersecurity -- Don’t Get Caught In Your Underwear

  Malware programs or endpoint protection programs are great tools. But in the same way that if you're a king sending an army out to battle, you're not going to have your soldiers storming the battlefield in a helmet and their...

  
• 10.10.2022

  Solution Spotlight: Tips To Manage Cyber Risks

  Part one of a three-part series aimed at helping you develop a sound cybersecurity plan focuses on assessments and training.

  
• 10.03.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Proper Training, Equipment Are Keys To Safe Operations

  In this episode, we're going to try and get our arms around understanding and addressing risks and how proper equipment and training are key for safe operation in hazardous areas. Joining me to share his expertise is Ryan Brownlee, Global...

  
• 09.08.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Structured Workflows Turn Data Into Action Items

  In this episode of Solution Spotlight Traci Purdum, executive editor of Chemical Processing, speaks with Floyd Baker, vice president of Antea, a global software and services company specializing in asset integrity management software with digital twin.  Floyd has been working in...

  
• 08.25.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: AI Transforms Sustainability, Topples Silos

  No longer a warm-fuzzy concept, sustainability is increasingly becoming as good for the bottom line as it is for the environment. To explain how AI-driven solutions that target machine and process health can help with strategy and results, Chemical Processing...

  
• 07.22.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Heat-Transfer Tech Cuts Costs, Promotes Productivity

  For corrosion-resistant heat-transfer materials in harsh and high-temperature processes, there are additional requirements to consider. To help explain existing and emerging technologies to meet specific process and plant conditions, Chemical Processing spoke with Gregory C. Becherer, senior vice president of...

  
• 05.26.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Digital Solutions Deliver Data Integrity

  Safety, accuracy and reliability are paramount in the development and testing of fine and specialty chemicals. Add to that the need for regulatory compliance, and it becomes clear that proper tools are needed. To understand how lab instruments can complement...

  
• 03.23.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Maintenance: Turn Firefighters into Forest Rangers

  When it comes to machine maintenance, digital tools promise a lot — from improving safety, meeting production targets and eliminating unplanned downtime to filling skill gaps and regulating supply-chain issues. But simply alerting users to machine malfunctions isn't enough to...

  
• 02.17.2022

  Solutions Spotlight: Data Lassos Supply-Chain Challenges

  Supply-chain issues, global competition and the need to deliver high-quality products are challenges facing many chemicals manufacturers today. To meet these challenges, you must keep track of inventory, improve operations, make better products and drive smart, sustainable growth. It’s a...

  
• 12.31.2021

  Solutions Spotlight: Drive Reliability Improvement Via CMMS Data

  Utilizing maintenance data to make key business decisions results in improved equipment reliability, optimized costs, improved safety, and environmental impacts. However, there are many challenges due to a lack of know-how, resources, and data quality issues. To understand and mitigate those...

  
• 11.30.2021

  Solutions Spotlight: Confidently Convey Difficult Materials

  Efficient conveying solutions that protect workers from hazardous dust, fumes and odors.

  
• 10.25.2021

  Solutions Spotlight: Safe Sample Systems Bolster Bottom Line

  Grabbing samples of hazardous chemicals in liquid and gas states is challenging but necessary. Manufacturers rely on quality samples to ensure products specs and operators rely on this equipment to help them grab those samples. But not all sampling platforms...