CLIENT: Technip Energies
DATE: 2018 - Present
INDUSTRY: Petrochemical
ROLE: Lead Product Designer
Ethylene: A Key Component in the Petrochemical Industry
Often referred to as the "building block of the petrochemical industry," ethylene is essential to the production of countless everyday products, from plastic bags to antifreeze. As global demand for ethylene continues to rise, with the market projected to reach $162 billion by 2026, the pressure on plant operators to produce ethylene efficiently, cost-effectively, and with minimal environmental impact grows.
Despite its vital role, ethylene production remains a resource-intensive and environmentally challenging process. Plant operators face the difficult task of balancing production yield, CO2 emissions, and supply chain efficiency while meeting increasing global demand.
Often referred to as the "building block of the petrochemical industry," ethylene is essential to the production of countless everyday products, from plastic bags to antifreeze. As global demand for ethylene continues to rise, with the market projected to reach $162 billion by 2026, the pressure on plant operators to produce ethylene efficiently, cost-effectively, and with minimal environmental impact grows.
Despite its vital role, ethylene production remains a resource-intensive and environmentally challenging process. Plant operators face the difficult task of balancing production yield, CO2 emissions, and supply chain efficiency while meeting increasing global demand.
Optimizing Ethylene Production Through Advanced Technology
To address these challenges, SAM (SPYRO for Asset Management) was developed through a partnership between Arundo Analytics and Technip Energies, a global leader in energy technology. SAM is built on Technip’s industry-standard SPYRO® software and leverages real-time data analytics and machine learning to optimize ethylene plant operations.
SAM offers predictive insights and optimization recommendations that help operators address key production challenges such as yield optimization, emissions control, and operational efficiency. By doing so, SAM helps plants meet their production targets more efficiently and contributes to environmental sustainability in one of the most energy-intensive industries.
The design process started with field research, which included on-site visits to ethylene plants outside of Europe. I conducted in-depth interviews with plant operators, engineers, and industry experts, as well as on-site observations of their daily workflows. This immersive research helped us map out the user journey, ensuring that SAM’s interface fit seamlessly into the operators’ existing workflows while addressing their most pressing needs.
To address these challenges, SAM (SPYRO for Asset Management) was developed through a partnership between Arundo Analytics and Technip Energies, a global leader in energy technology. SAM is built on Technip’s industry-standard SPYRO® software and leverages real-time data analytics and machine learning to optimize ethylene plant operations.
SAM offers predictive insights and optimization recommendations that help operators address key production challenges such as yield optimization, emissions control, and operational efficiency. By doing so, SAM helps plants meet their production targets more efficiently and contributes to environmental sustainability in one of the most energy-intensive industries.
The design process started with field research, which included on-site visits to ethylene plants outside of Europe. I conducted in-depth interviews with plant operators, engineers, and industry experts, as well as on-site observations of their daily workflows. This immersive research helped us map out the user journey, ensuring that SAM’s interface fit seamlessly into the operators’ existing workflows while addressing their most pressing needs.
Simplifying Complex Data for Actionable Insights
One of the most significant design challenges was translating complex, real-time plant data into an actionable format. Ethylene production involves vast amounts of data that need to be presented in a way that allows operators to make fast, informed decisions. Achieving this balance required several iterations, including multiple rounds of prototyping and user testing.
One of the most significant design challenges was translating complex, real-time plant data into an actionable format. Ethylene production involves vast amounts of data that need to be presented in a way that allows operators to make fast, informed decisions. Achieving this balance required several iterations, including multiple rounds of prototyping and user testing.
Key design challenges included:
· Clear Data Visualization: We needed to present real-time data in a way that was easy to interpret at a glance while providing deeper insights for detailed analysis when necessary.
· Balancing Complexity with Usability: The UI had to simplify decision-making for operators without overwhelming them with information. This required a careful balance between providing enough depth for informed decisions and maintaining a clean, user-friendly design.
· Cross-Functional Collaboration: Continuous feedback from data scientists, subject matter experts, and plant operators was essential. This iterative process ensured the platform met both technical and UX needs, aligning advanced analytics with real-world plant operations.
By integrating advanced analytics with a design approach focused on the real needs of plant operators, our team developed a solution tailored to the unique challenges of ethylene production. SAM's ability to streamline workflows and provide actionable insights has improved efficiency and helped operators manage their processes more effectively. This project highlights how thoughtful design and technology can come together to make a tangible difference in a complex, data-driven environment.
By integrating advanced analytics with a design approach focused on the real needs of plant operators, our team developed a solution tailored to the unique challenges of ethylene production. SAM's ability to streamline workflows and provide actionable insights has improved efficiency and helped operators manage their processes more effectively. This project highlights how thoughtful design and technology can come together to make a tangible difference in a complex, data-driven environment.
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