Next Generation Electronic Operations and Maintenance Manuals

This presentation will discuss the application of new technologies now available in the deployment of Electronic Operations and Maintenance (EOM) manuals. Over the past decade, utilities largely transitioned from paper to electronic storage. Unfortunately, many of these implementations were limited to straightforward conversions to Word or scanned PDF formats. Little was done in the way of converting unstructured narrative data about equipment and operating procedures into more structured and useable data. Functionality was limited to simple searches of associated documentation.This presentation will focus specifically on the use of SharePoint as a platform and its application in implementing an EOM for Kitsap County, Washington’s Central Kitsap Treatment Plant (CKTP) Facility. Users of the existing electronic system had issues navigating the system, were unable to make changes to its content, and found it dated overall. The implementation, completed in the fall of 2016, focused on converting materials in their existing electronic O&M Manual to an updated system. Utilizing this approach corrected many of these issues, and the final implementation involved the following major data components:7 major process areas350 individual pieces of equipment and instruments800 facility images200 alarms and alarm response procedures1800 total documents, including record drawings, manufacturer documents and specificationsThis approach involves the use of commercial off-the-shelf software, SharePoint, already used by the County for other purposes. Its application for EOM enabled the County to leverage their pre-existing investments in training, support, software, and hardware for that product. Equipment, instruments, and operating sequences are stored in a structured database to insure consistency across plant operations. Additional benefits accrue now that the County can re-configure and modify EOM contents internally, without the need for external consultant assistance.