Start-up and commissioning is the point where a lot of people start to get excited about seeing equipment and processes come together to operate in unison. As an engineer, it marks the culmination of many hours (or perhaps days, months or even years depending on the size and scope of the project) of hard work. You’ve tested and re-tested, made tweeks, changes (both small and large) along the way. You’ve witnessed and verified results to ensure your Go Live is seamless and meets the customer’s specifications. Recently, my team completed the first in a series of Wonderware System Platform upgrades for a large multi-site water distribution/treatment company. As with many projects, we faced a number of challenges. Some were typical, such as a lack of standards and documentation supporting the existing software. Others were more complicated, such as the health and safety concerns around testing at a plant that delivers water to the public. And, as with any project involving software changes, operator acceptance was a major concern. The overall success of the project would hinge upon a successful commissioning at the first site.
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