Global Manufacturing Operating to Plan
Our number one priority remains your health, safety and wellbeing, and as President of not just Global Manufacturing, but also HSE, I want to reiterate that our response to the COVID-19 virus, and the measures we are implementing are designed to keep you all safe while keeping our plants and businesses running with minimal disruptions.
I am proud of the way our Global Manufacturing team is embracing and implementing the additional safety controls to keep us safe and flatten the curve of the spread of the virus, such as the social distancing measures and working arrangements introduced. Despite the challenges the virus is putting on the global infrastructure, our plants across the US and Asia Pacific all continue to remain operational with all precautions operating.
I am even more impressed with the innovative initiatives our people are employing across our sites to reduce any risk of transmission.
A great example is using digital display boards to communicate with drivers at our PDCs, eliminating the need for them to enter the office, substituting the dispatch process outdoors and reducing office interfaces with blockades and window arrangements – real and practical examples of social distancing in action.
Above: Social distancing at the permit hut
I particularly wanted to congratulate the Gibson Island team for a successfully executed Turnaround at Gibson Island despite all the additional challenges and precautions.
This was the largest Turnaround in our 60 years of operating history at GI. Over 900 individual work orders scheduled requires an average of 150 permits issued per shift to manage the planned work. A fantastic achievement in very challenging circumstances. Well done team!
Another great example of our sites operating to plan is the 15 week shutdown at Phosphate Hill. The team have an additional 175 people on site assisting with the maintenance and are doing an absolutely fantastic job in managing these and the 32 Contract Partners in a safe, planned and controlled manner. 4,600 work hours have been undertaken to date and despite all the additional safety controls, people, equipment and the regular work and projects happening on on-site, these have been achieved with no injuries at all.
Above: Social distancing during service and repair activities
The use of visual displays to communicate key information, has been critical to keeping this complex and challenging project running smoothly, to plan and safely. One of which is the new Acid Plant tag board. This is the new work front the site has implemented to help everyone understand who is in the area quickly and efficiently. While all of this is going on, the site is still producing quality product at planned rates.
Another great example is the team at St Helens, Oregon who collaborated to source specialised parts required to return the Ammonia Plant to service following a brief outage (more on that next time).
So, I wanted to reassure you that although things are changing on a daily basis, our Global Manufacturing plants are running well and continuing to produce quality product for our customers. Scheduled works and maintenance are running to plan, and our people are staying safe.
I am continually impressed by the way we collaborate, share ideas, and find innovate ways to find solutions to complex challenges, and this has been the most challenging in our history.
You are all doing an amazing job in keeping everyone safe while ensuring our plants continue to operate and produce product for our customers.
It is because of our people’s resilience, and working together as One IPL, I believe we will emerge stronger on the other side. Let’s keep working together, make use of the technology and tools we have available to stay connected, but most importantly stay safe and keep checking in on each other.
Shared by Tim Wall, President Global Manufacturing & Corporate Affairs