(18a) Closed-Loop Model to Optimize Management of Change System and Best Practices to Manage the MOC Digital Transition

Management of Change (MOC) is one of the key elements in any modern model of a safety management system. Due to the dynamic nature of the oil and gas industry, frequent changes are essential to maintain facilities and optimize production. Changes come with associated risks that require effective management to ensure safe and effective execution. The MOC system includes identifying, reviewing and authorizing changes that are not replacement-in-kind to ensure any potential adverse impact is addressed. The system also involves documenting and communicating changes to affected employees. Failure of the MOC system has been considered as a major contributor to incidents in the industry. Both operational and organizational changes, if not managed well, can lead to major industrial incidents. For example, improper control of changes has been identified as a major contributor to the Flixborough disaster in 1974, and Texas City Refinery explosion in 2005. Improving the implementation of MOC requires a healthy system in place and adequate levels of competency. In addition, digitalizing the MOC system can enhance effectiveness of risk management when the integration and transition, from manual to digital practices, are managed effectively. The paper proposes a closed-loop model to systematically overcome challenges related to the implementation of the MOC process within the oil and gas industry, with provisions to ensure prioritised continuous improvement. Additionally, it discusses the digitalization challenges and focus areas to ensure effective deployment.

The failure of the MOC system can have different causes. The main cause is the failure to trigger the MOC process to manage applicable changes. This is still being identified as a contributory factory to major incidents in the industry. Other challenges include failure to implement adequate hazard identification and risk assessments, failure to revalidate control measures as part of temporary changes, and failure to update process safety information. A closed-loop model (between the technical authority and the auditing function) will systematically drive prioritised improvements with fit-for-purpose safety tools.

In addition, emerging technologies and digital solutions for MOC can enable better management of risks by minimizing human errors, improving efficiency, and simplifying the process implementation. Likewise, big data and advanced analytics can uncover invisible patterns and correlations. Like any other digitalization change, digitalizing the MOC process comes with its own challenges that could lead to unintentional results such as overwhelming the operator with unnecessary alarms/notifications, losing track of objectives due to the visibility of large volumes of data, missing the opportunity to drive effectiveness with unconventional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and losing the required technical expertise as a result of automation.