Quality APC Program Manager

Air Liquide Large Industries provides our customers with industrial gas and energy solutions that are vital to their own industrial production. We own and operate over 2,000 miles of industrial gas pipelines in the U.S. supplying mainly oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and syngas in large quantities from multiple production sources to major customers in the chemicals, petrochemicals, refining and steel industries. Our pipeline operations and industrial gas production facilities are closely monitored 24/7 within our leading-edge operations control center located in Houston, Texas. Our operations control group monitors over 89,000 data points and assists with product supply and coordination. We are constantly optimizing our supply network to provide high reliability and energy efficiencies allowing Air Liquide to adjust supply needs more quickly and effectively enabling growth to our customers.

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

The role of the Centralized Efficiency Performance team within the NAM SIOC is to provide targeted focus on the optimal operation of the LI NAM asset fleet with a focus on identification of performance/efficiency improvement opportunities. Optimal performance includes understanding the performance capabilities of assets, and where constrained, ensure a resolution path is clearly defined (scoped), funded, scheduled and that it delivers its intended improvement. The prioritization of these projects is critical to ensure that resources are deployed in the most effective way. Centralized Efficiency Performance team works in close collaboration with the Operations teams to ensure visibility on efficiency and operational performance metrics and leverages global tools (e.g., Prism, Perform, Optim) after careful review of their applicability and value proposition for LI NAM in whole, or a subset of operational facilities.

The Efficiency Performance Support team closely collaborates with Operations, CTE, Energy Management and Plant Projects. They will leverage industrial gas process knowledge, energy management optimization strategies, and various tools to identify and value performance opportunities.

The SIO Efficiency Performance Analyst, APC is a member of the Efficiency Performance Support team and reports to the Manager, Efficiency Performance Support. The position is located in Houston, TX.

Subject Matter Expertise

• Has strong technical knowledge in the area of advanced process controls. Expectation to continue to develop technical awareness, if not independent competencies, in a minimum of two technical areas, with support from other Experts.
• Role is expected to coach, develop and mentor APC resources and competencies within the SIOC and operation teams.
• Project Management experience, including the ability to execute high impact projects, assess impact and align key stakeholders to receive funding with assurance of delivering results for scope defined.

Strategy

• Develop, and drive a multi-year plan for the deployment of a quality APC program. Including prioritization of focus, driving in areas where largest impact is expected. Deliver the roadmap with support and by-in from the SIO Center leadership, Operations and Industrial Direction..
• Work effectively with World Industrial Management Organization and other SIOCs to influence tool creation in the area of quality APC, sharing best practices from quality APC assessments and leverage global support as the NAM cluster puts in place a work process in this area.
• Work in close collaboration with the Industrial Direction Process Control APC team to evaluate suitability of implementation of new APC projects, and ensure the prioritization of sites matches the organizational needs. In addition, share learning from quality APC assessments, which can be utilized and implemented in new projects.
• Align with the Industrial Direction Process Control APC team on standards and practices for revamp changes. Ensure we are following a common methodology to allow easier long-term maintenance of the control narratives across the LI fleet.

Performance Monitoring

• Proactively identifying the gaps related to the SIO.Perform stream (plant efficiency) and leading or advising relevant members to take proper and timely actions to operate at best economical performance.
• Leading or advising relevant members to take proper and time actions to address the constraints related to SIO.Optim stream ( system efficiency : pipeline network or liquid supply).
• Maintaining digital tools and data models; in charge of deploying plant efficiency models and maintaining them. Ensuring the good quality of the models by assessing effectiveness and driving improvements.

Quality APC and Corrective Actions

• Define the QAPC annual deployment roadmap according to the estimated potential efficiencies.
• Calculate and report efficiencies/savings generated by QAPC deployments
• Be the technical leader for SIOC/Operations personnel regarding QAPC topics
• Develop KPIs to ensure the utilization and effectiveness of QAPC deployments, that will assist in the transition to advanced control room mode for our facilities.
• Conduct Quality APC assessment for sites and identify opportunities that will improve the baseline efficiency.
• Provide technical support to SIOC personnel and operation facilities to identify and improve low performing QAPC loops; including but not limited to advanced troubleshooting, configuration, and loop tuning.
• Build value/acceptance of APC applications within Operations, Zone and Plant Management and Operators, through discussion, training and demonstrated success.
• Implement new/revamp projects within budget and on schedule.
• Continue to develop practical ASU and Hyco process experience.
• Ensure proper documentation when executing revamp projects via QAPC; including but not limited to MOC (management of change) scope description, control strategy narrative modifications and loop tuning documents.

Are you a MATCH?

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering required (MSc degree preferred)
• 5+ years of process industry experience in cryogenic air separation process technology or distillation process technology.
• 3+ years experience in programmable control system specification, configuration, networking, commissioning and technical support; preferably with a mix of control systems, but at least have expert level in one DCS system.
• Ability to read and develop functional diagrams
• Knowledgeable of advanced control techniques
• Have a practical understanding of computer networking
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as DDE, OPC or Suitelink
• Able to perform loop tuning
• Solid understanding of different instrumentation types especially analyzers and flowmeters.
• Experience in documentation including write-up of project proposals, estimates, control narrative and application scope description.
• Knowledge of Google Office Productivity Suite (Drive, Doc, Sheets, etc...).
• Strong communication skills, written and oral. Able to effectively interface with other engineering disciplines/organizations, plant operations and senior management.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, able to multi-task with changing priorities according to operational requirements.
• Mastering of SIO analysis and optimization tools (EMS, Optim, SEEQ, ...)
• Solid data science and statistics knowledge (regressions, linear programming, machine learning, ...)
• Solid project management skillsAvailable 24/7 as needed by OCC with ability to be on call and can be consulted outside of normal working hours by OCC operations, plant operations, and management.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.

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