Introduction
For many years Stork in the Netherlands is one of Minerva’s valued customers. Stork chose to implement a new calibration management system, MET/TEAM. Lei Janssen, Operations Manager of the Calibration & Instrumentation Services department elaborates why he appreciates the cooperation and the way Minerva helped to implement MET/TEAM.
Background
What does Stork Calibration & Instrumentation Services do?
At the Elsloo location where I work, we perform most of the calibrations for Stork Nederland and its customers. This branch specializes in the shortest possible turnaround time of equipment and instruments during a planned maintenance stop of production companies. In our region, the companies at the Chemelot Industrial Park in Geleen are important customers for us.
If a production location, such as a naphtha cracker, comes to a stop, the costs will easily amount to a quarter of a million euros per eight hours. The stop must therefore be kept as short and safe as possible. At our site the spring-loaded pressure relief valves, control valves and shut-off valves are revised by the Valve Services department, among others. After their revision, they are returned to the production location and re-installed, adjusted and tested. The measuring instruments that are used for this work are calibrated and managed by our Calibration & Instrumentation Services.
Usually the stops are planned turnkey projects. However, it also happens that a production company has an incident that causes a production stop. In that case, many suppliers and service providers work together to get the plant up and running again as quickly and safely as possible.
Can you tell us a little bit about your work as an Operation Manager, Calibration & Instrumentation Services for the Netherlands?
I am responsible for four departments, staffed by 25 professionals in total:
- Flow calibration chamber:
This is where we can perform brand-independent calibrations of flow meters using liquid. In addition, the overhaul and repair work of these flowmeters can be done at our facility. - Calibration department:
This department calibrates hand-held and process instruments (voltage, current, resistance, temperature and pressure), not restricted to any specific brand. Repairs and revisions of these instruments can also be carried out here. These instruments are mainly used by electrotechnical mechanics and technicians for calibrations, commissioning, troubleshooting and performing repairs at the production sites.
- Service for weighing instruments:
This service performs 90% of its activities at customer sites. It involves both automatic and non-automatic weighing instruments, which can measure weights ranging from 1 mg to 100 tonnes. Stork is certified by the Nederlands Meet Instituut (NMi; Dutch Metrology Institute) as an accredited inspector. - Geometry/dimensional:
In this department we calibrate the most commonly used and applied geometric/dimensional measuring tools and instruments. In addition, this department checks the characteristics of finished products, such as their diameter, flatness and length. More complex geometric measurements are performed using a contour measuring machine.
Transition to MET/TEAM
Can you describe the challenge?
Before 2014, Stork had been using other software for its calibration management system. The supplier had announced that it would stop supporting this software so Stork would no longer receive any service on it. At Stork we therefore started looking for a modern and long-term alternative.
What solution did Stork come up with?
We looked at various types of software. We also inquired about the software that the NMi (Dutch Metrology Institute) is using, for instance. As it turned out, however, this software had been developed specifically for their situation and therefore not applicable for Stork.
After exploring the options, Stork opted to purchase the web-based software called MET/TEAM. The deciding factor was that Minerva indicated that the data could be migrated without problems. That was important, because thousands of records had to be transferred automatically.
As a single point of contact, Minerva did its utmost to ensure a smooth transition to the MET/TEAM software including all of the data from the previous system. All of Stork’s questions were addressed by Minerva with a lot of drive and full of enthusiasm. In addition, the company collaborated closely with Fluke so that the right software expertise from the United States could be used. Constructive consultations were also held with Stork to ensure a smooth migration to MET/TEAM, enabling Stork to use one central system with a single central database.
Once the software operated in a stable manner, Stork also started offering service contracts to its own customers for the use of MET/TEAM via the Customer Portal. Many customers were positively surprised once they started using MET/TEAM – despite their initial reservations – and indicated that it was the first time that they had experienced software functioning well from the very beginning. In my opinion, that’s a great result.
Minerva not only helped Stork with the purchase of MET/TEAM, but also provided optimal support during the process of going live. Minerva ensured smooth communication during the implementation.
Making better use of Stork’s resources
What benefits of MET/TEAM does Stork experience in practice?
Four locations of Stork Nederland, including Elsloo, Rotterdam, Groningen and Delfzijl, now work together using the same web-based MET/TEAM software. That has many advantages for us.
At Stork we’re working in a more standardized manner since we have started using MET/TEAM. Since we’re working with the same calibration/test equipment at different locations, we can follow the same standardized procedures and use the same reports with an identical layout. It’s very efficient to know which calibration/test equipment our colleagues have and whether it is available. It enables us to exchange equipment and thus also make better use of Stork’s resources. In addition, the nationwide use of MET/TEAM also saves costs for Stork. It means that we no longer have to have multiple licenses for the various different software packages. Besides our clients who are using MET/TEAM are also very satisfied. They appreciate the clear reports and all their certificates all together in one system.
At Stork we started with two MET/TEAM user licenses in 2014 and now we have nine. Maybe more licenses will be added in the future.