AspenTech is planning to train young engineers who come to the job market, reports SREE BHAT

Aspentech, a process industry software leader, is in talks with customers about how best to train the newly qualified engineers coming into the workplace.

Speaking to OGN, Luc Chantepy, Aspentech Vice-President, Middle East and North Africa, said a lot of young engineers are coming to the market now who need to be trained in using technology.

'The question is how to make sure that these young engineers benefit from the latest technologies available in the market. How they can embrace them and deliver on them. It is not technology alone, it’s how to train new engineers coming to the market.

'We are working with our customers to see how we can set up an institute. We have been engaged with mature regions – like Europe and America in such training and are now looking at a different format for emerging regions such as the Middle East and China. We are not trying to copy paste what has been successful elsewhere but trying to see what is good for this region,' he said.

Talking about the importance of training, he said: 'Technology on its own does not ensure value, value comes from how we use technology. You can have the best technology, but if you don’t use it properly, you don’t get the best value out of it. Our customers don’t need just technology, they need value from it. So, they need the hybrid solution between technology and people.'

AspenTech has its Middle East headquarters in Bahrain and has major operations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar.

Meanwhile, AspenTech has launched a new solution to improve plant maintenance based on machine learning. The software helps customers reliably and safely operate at the limits of asset performance.

'It is a new technology that has been proven outside the process industry and we are now bringing it to the process industry. And that it’s probably the next big thing,' said Chantepy.

Machine learning helps operators know months in advance when the machines require maintenance. It gives plants the time to plan downtime and repair. 'Instead of a very costly repair, you end up having planned, much cheaper repairs. That was not doable in the past, but Big Data has made it possible.

'We are currently piloting the product with customers and there is a good response to it. We believe that it will make a huge difference and it will be the next technological wave in the industry,' he said.

AspenTech feels it is well placed to support the industry with its move towards optimisation using new technologies. 'It is about how you can bring efficiency employing technologies that are bringing benefits to customers. How to reach the next level of optimisation where the customer will gain the margin that will make the difference in the long term.'

Speaking on the challenges facing the industry, he said: 'I think the process engineers now need to run their operations optimally. So, it’s about making sure that an asset operates at the optimum level and improve downtime. It’s not just knowing technology, it’s knowing, through technology, how to get more from assets. It is probably something different from the past, but it’s the new-normal in the oil and gas sector.'