When looking to implement technology to automate field-based activities or data collection, operators should not forget about the final mile between the office, field operations, and the field worker. Field-based activities such as tracking and maintenance of equipment on drilling or service rigs, ensuring a safe work environment, recording hours of service, or invoicing for parts and services rely on a field-based worker physically performing the work and recording what has been done. Very often the activity that field workers perform and the data they collect in the field affect multiple business units, each of which has its own ways of communicating back and forth with those workers. This also often involves multiple processes, workflows, and controls with which the field worker must interact.

Technology should not be the goal; it is merely a tool. A hammer, a pencil, and an iPad are no good in and of themselves. These tools do not convert mediocre maintenance plans, safety controls, or invoicing practices into effective ones. While there are numerous benefits from converting a manual or paper-based process to an automated one, there are a few factors to consider.

Does it end up being manual anyway?

In this technologically advanced world, there are hundreds of automated systems that are extremely advanced and can do some very smart things. However, no matter how smart these automated systems may be, if a field worker has to complete a piece of paper, that system is not really effective. Many systems rely on a field worker printing out a form that then has to be filled in and manually entered back into that same system either in the field or at the office. During this type of workflow, numerous errors can and will creep in.

A big issue with printed forms is that they are 1-D, meaning that there is no real-time information available to the field worker – only what is printed is available. If that worker uncovers another problem not specified on a work order, this might mean that he or she has to enter that information and wait for another work order to be generated and printed. The interim result might be critical failure of that asset and shutting down a rig until it is finally repaired or replaced. A system needs to adapt based on what the field worker does and finds. This is often not predictable, so a truly powerful system should be able to deliver information and activity instructions in real time.

User interactivity

Often field workers are forgotten when implementing field activity automation, including how they access and interact with these systems. A system with restricted or difficult-to-access hardware or with software that is difficult to navigate will have a direct impact on how often it is used and ultimately how effective the system will be. Include the added frustration by field workers of having to traverse through a number of different systems or data capture methods, and all good intentions come to a grinding halt.

Simplicity is the name of the game. Operators need to make sure that whatever technology is implemented is designed and formulated around field workers and how they work. Automation should ultimately make things easier for a field worker as long as it is not restrictive or complicated. A user-friendly interface on a mobile device provides field workers with real-time access to activity instructions and data requirements. This allows them to be more efficient and effective.

Achieve more with less

With all the activity instructions and data requirements going back and forth between the office and the field, the goal should be a “less is more” approach, i.e., implementing systems that provide greater functionality and data with less user interaction. For example, the interaction between mobile devices and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for a maintenance activity will fulfill a number of data requirements: maintenance, asset tracking, and even payroll data. When supervisors measure what work is being performed against which asset and by whom, they can prompt their workers on the proper safety protocols to follow to avoid incidents. The ideal situation would be a multifunctional system on a single mobile device that uses RFID technology. These systems exist and have a very specific focus on the oil and gas industry and the issues associated with the tracking and maintenance of assets, field worker safety, and hours of service along with invoicing for parts and services. In other words, these technologies provide a single system on a single device with which field workers can interact that is more effective and efficient, with a combined database across multiple business operations.

Manage what you measure

Many companies look at how effective their maintenance or safety programs are, where they can make improvements, and whether or not they actually make a difference. The only way to do this is to measure and analyze, and the only way to do that is to gather multiple data points. It is very difficult to achieve this through a paper-based or manual process due to the inherent flaws and potential for errors. The only real answer is a fully automated process. Unless a company measures itself, managers will not know where to improve or make positive change. Introducing automation and combining mobile devices and RFID technology to replace paper-based or manual processes provide an effective strategy to achieving long-term and continuous success. This allows companies to maximize the performance, productivity, accuracy, and compliance of their field-based assets and workers by ensuring adherence to processes, workflows, and control.