As with any system utilizing a customized model, the ongoing maintenance and
upkeep of the solution must be prioritized by the organization. Whether a shared
ownership model with the solution provider or an internal“center of excellence”
model is chosen, the organization must commit adequate resources to ensure ongoing
success. This includes providing support and training during the transition of internal
ownership to new staff and integration of model update and upkeep into“management
of change”procedures in order that the model remains accurate and useful in driving
savings over time.
Regular review of past performance of the system is also critical. The gap between
recommended and actual performance should be analyzed. Constraints to the optimi-zation should be adjusted, as appropriate, to accurately account for the actual
allowable operating limits, in line with the continuous improvement recommended
by the Plan–Do–Check–Act method of ISO 50001. If certain constraints are always
active, the organization should question whether the constraint is valid (can the system
run closer to a limit?) or the constraint can be removed through equipment or process
changes. The optimizer can provide the economic justification for the changes.
Finally, the organization should regularly review, document, publish, and consider
rewards for saving goals achieved. When a“team”approach is combined with a rigorous
technical basis and sustained support for the solution over time, the site reaps the ongoing
benefits of cost savings, improved reliability through standardization of operations, and
assurance of environmental compliance based upon the rigorous utility model