The new handheld solution connects employees in the field directly to the OpenTAS terminal management system to ensure that important information is immediately available everywhere (photo: Implico Group)

The Implico Group has developed a software solution for handhelds that makes mineral oil loading faster, simpler and safer, enabling tank terminal operators to take the next step toward embracing the Internet of Things (IoT). The new, mobile solution connects employees in the field directly to the OpenTAS terminal management system to ensure that important information is immediately available everywhere. It also supports staff in the visual inspection of tank trucks and railcars.

The digital transformation of business continues to progress – and downstream is no exception as demand is increasing for solutions that can replace the remaining paper-based processes. With its new software solution for handhelds, the Implico Group is now enabling digitalisation in an area that was previously almost inaccessible: product loading in relation to railcars, ships and pipelines.

Operations staff at refineries or tank terminals can digitally record incoming railcar and tank truck data using handheld devices and the new software, thus eliminating the need for subsequent entry of manual notes into the terminal management system. The solution is faster, more cost-efficient and avoids typical errors associated with manual data entry.

The application uses a predefined checklist to guide employees step by step through the handling process. Since this checklist prevents staff from forgetting steps, it increases process safety.

The checklist also supports the visual inspection of vehicles and loading, as prescribed by hazardous materials legislation for the transportation of dangerous goods. A history function in the application permits the entry of details such as earlier damage to a vehicle, enabling personnel to carry out targeted inspections of such areas.

In many countries, vehicle compartments are sealed with special steel seals once loading is complete. Instead of painstakingly writing down complex seal ID numbers, employees need only a few seconds to scan in the numbers with the handheld application. This data is then stored immediately in the terminal management system.

The new handheld application closes the previously existing digital gap between operations and the terminal management system. Refinery or tank terminal personnel can access the OpenTAS terminal management system during their work in the field,which results in substantial efficiency gains. For example, if the vehicle data is already stored in OpenTAS, it is shown to the employees as the default entry – so they do not need to enter the data again. Conversely, all data input by the operator is relayed back in real time, which means that the latest process information is visible immediately to the other team members. The system can also be used to confirm which operator performed which tasks, and when.

The solution’s unique real-time transparency and the soon-to-be-available background checking feature can also be used to prevent product contamination: since the system is always fully up-to-date, it can report immediately if processes running in parallel may result in product contamination.

“Interfacing handhelds in this way to a terminal automation system in hazardous goods environments is a new approach,” comments Thomas Fahland, Head of Solution Management at Implico. “This kind of integration into process planning and monitoring in particular is a real innovation in the context of terminal and refinery logistics. The only alternative to achieving the levels of transparency and safety that are now available with our standard solution would have involved major investment in connected automation in all areas of logistics.”

Development work performed by Implico involved close collaboration with hardware makers Honeywell and ECOM, as well as with several petroleum companies. Future implementations will also require close collaboration with the companies that will adopt the solution. “It is crucial for us to know the clearance processes and operational requirements down to the very last detail for the company in question,” Fahland continues. “If we can meet this requirement, then we can configure the solution to achieve the maximum workload reductions and time savings possible.”

The solution is compatible with any make of device, including those intended for use in explosion hazard areas. Backend functionality is provided by the OpenTAS Web Application Server. The handheld clients are connected in real time and access the solution via a browser. This enables true real-time transparency for logistics processes.

Tags: Implico Group