a year with operations as network performance engineer (npe)...oct 06, 2017 · title: microsoft...
TRANSCRIPT
A year with operations as Network Performance Engineer
(NPE)Alan Maher
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12 month secondment to operations
Introduction
20 minutes
Background
Role responsibilities
Rehabilitation scheme – an in depth look
How did they benefit from having a modeller?
What have I learned from the experience
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12 month secondment to operations
Background
2004: University of Liverpool – Geology with Physical Geography (BSc.)
2005: University of Liverpool – “Modelling and Integrated Management of Water
in the Natural Environment” Research Masters (MRes.)
2006 – 2008: Consultancy 2.5 years as a graduate Modelling Engineer.
2008 – Present: Graduate – Assistant Engineer ‐ Modelling Engineer in Modelling
Team, United Utilities.
2013 ‐ Chartered Water & Environmental Manager (C.WEM).
2016 – 2017: Secondment as a Network Performance Engineer (NPE) for North
Cheshire which includes Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn.
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12 month secondment to operations
Modelling responsibilities
Modelling Engineer
Modelling specialist
Picks up more complex jobs for
other parts of the business
Network Performance Engineer
Trained modeller ~ 20% of time
Simpler jobs, sends complex to
the Modelling Team
80% of time ‐ A number of other
duties regarding network
performance
Skills provided to
the network team
New skills learned
in secondment
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12 month secondment to operations
North Cheshire
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12 month secondment to operations
Role responsibilities of NPE (High variety)
Matrix Manager base in operations
Liaison with other parts of the business, “go to” technical person for the area.
Modelling new housing & industrial developments
Distribution Operation Maintenance Strategy (DOMS) meetings, Water quality, pressure, growth
Very Small Projects (VSPs <£250k): Initiating and managing from start to finish.
Poor pressure (DG2) monitoring: and input into resolving issues.
Network risk assessments
Technical Standby Cover
Additional: Contingency plans, connectivity schematics, SR turnover, Ineos investigation, Oswestry
turbidity monitoring
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Rehabilitation Scheme
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Low pressure
• A few properties experiencing less than 15m pressure.
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What is the significance of poor pressure
Short timescales to correct the issue to avoid regulatory penalties.
Flagged up as DG2 issue (pressures have become lower).
Inclusion GSS payments.
Yearly totals reportable to the OFWAT.
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Head loss in the system07/09/2016
0 hours 24hrs
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Worst affected section
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Yes, these pipes do exist
Further issues?
Proactivity avoiding customer complaints
New future housing developments – risk of poor supply from future developments
Cast iron main (1930’s)
High discolouration risk
High burst risk
Resilience – rezone potential
Sample cut info from previous years shows main to be heavily “tuberculated”
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Options
1) No rezone option 3) Rehab partial or whole main
2) Check for a throttled valve/restriction 4) Add x‐connection
Buried valve, could this be the issue?
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Open cut rehab solution whole main
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Individual sections of new main are sampled and chlorinated on commission
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Construction drawings returned for progress updates
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Health and Safety
Extra time was allowed due to the
presence of gas mains.
Work on hold during Storm Dorris.
Application to council for traffic
management specifically around a traffic
island.
Traffic light cover blown off
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Modelling shows DMA can now be rezoned
Normal supply Rezone supply
Rehab
Proposed slip
lining across
bridge
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How did they benefit from having a modeller?
• VSP mobilisation – Use of loggers and modelling to identify issues and move
VSPs past the “Optioneering” stage and into project.
• More confidence in modelled solutions proposed
• Modelling of more complex SIRs and EPLAs
• Realisation within Field Operations of the wide ranging benefits of modelling,
attitude towards the results improves when the model driver has confidence
in the results.
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What have I learned from the experience
• Understanding of the organisational structure
• Matrix management – what people do day to day, how they work differently
and why, where the different attitudes and perceptions come from, what
makes them tick.
• Understanding of where modelling projects originate and how finances are
mobilised.
• Awareness of different data sources available (DG2, water quality etc.) and
quality of / confidence in these data sources.
• Awareness of site issues and ways of working that can help and hinder
projects.
Thankyou for listening. Any Questions?