Knowledge & Insights

04.06.25

Mastering Six Phases of Shutdown and Turnaround Management with iPlanSTO

James Holt, IAMTech's Commercial Director, explores how mastering the six phases of Shutdown and Turnaround Management with iPlanSTO can turn complex TAR events into strategic wins through precision planning, execution, and continuous improvement.

29.05.25

Why your Software Project may be Failing - and how to Revive it

Whether you’re running a refinery, a process plant, or just figuring out how to modernise your processes, here are five secrets, from a seasoned software provider (and not-so-seasoned gardener), to help ensure your next software rollout bears fruit.

14.05.25

Still Using Spreadsheets for Shutdown and Turnaround Planning? It’s Costing You More Than You Think.

In this article, we’ll examine the limitations of spreadsheet-based planning, explore the operational risks it creates, and introduce purpose-built STO software that not only streamlines the process but delivers measurable returns. Let’s explore why now is the time to rethink your approach.

29.04.25

How to Launch an Electronic Permit to Work System in Just Weeks.

Making the switch from a traditional paper-based Permit to Work system to a new Electronic Permit to Work (ePTW) solution can sound difficult. Many companies worry that an ePTW will take months to implement and adopt, causing headaches and heartache along the way. At IAMTech, we make it simple.

23.04.25

Effective Turnaround Management in Industrial Operations.

Turnarounds are high-stakes, high-cost events vital for maintaining safety, performance, and compliance in heavy industry. With early preparation, tight scheduling, and digital oversight, companies can reduce downtime, control costs, and improve asset reliability.

16.04.25

Enhance Workplace Safety with Risk Control Software

Traditionally, Permit to Work (ePTW) systems and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) tools are managed on paper, leading to delays, errors, and poor visibility. Digital platforms now connect the two processes, creating a safer, more streamlined approach. Our latest article explores how.

31.03.25

From Model Makers to Market Leaders: How a Teesside Model Maker Built a Global Software Powerhouse

In an era where many software companies start in a bedroom or boardroom, IAMTech’s origins are a little different — they began with superglue, plastic, and scale models of industrial plants.

20.03.25

Three Key Benefits of an ePTW Solution

The integration of an electronic Permit to Work (ePTW) can transform operations, enhance safety protocols, improve compliance, and streamline workflows, saving lives, time, money, and reputation. Companies who have already made the switch to ePTW have observed that integrating a digital solution has produced many benefits to their organisations, providing real-time visibility into work permits, reducing safety risks, and enhancing coordination among teams.

29.01.25

STO 4.0: A New Year & A New Era for Turnaround Management

Here’s why 2025 is the year to fully embrace STO 4.0—and how digital tools are transforming the way turnarounds are planned and executed.

14.01.25

Countdown to Compliance: Why ePTW Systems Should Be Your 2025 Resolution

If compliance is on your organisation’s 2025 resolution list, here’s why adopting or upgrading an ePTW system should be your top priority.

27.11.24

BS 202001: A New Era for Industry-Wide Project Controls

BS 202001 seeks to standardise project controls by providing clear guidelines and specifications applicable to projects of all types and sizes.

02.11.24

Enhancing Industrial Safety and Efficiency through Permit-to-Work Software Solutions

This article delves into the specific benefits, challenges, and real-world applications of PTW software within industrial settings, featuring case studies from oil refineries and petrochemical industries. It’s essential reading for businesses still navigating the transition from paper-based systems.

16.10.24

The Top 5 Reasons Turnarounds Go Off Track—And How to Keep Control

Effective management plays a key role in preventing failures in industrial turnarounds. Careful planning is crucial, as studies show that 80% of turnarounds tend to exceed their budgets without proper oversight. STO (Shutdown, Turnaround, and Outage) software can significantly enable efficient cost control and decision-making during these complex operations.

01.10.24

Top Benefits of Permit to Work Software for Businesses in 2024

Digital transformation in H&S leverages permit to work software to streamline compliance and safety. Focus shifts from paperwork to core tasks.

17.09.24

Enhance Safety with Permit to Work Software

The move from paper-based safety systems to digital permit to work software significantly enhances worker safety, compliance, and procedural efficiency.

02.09.24

Fuelling Innovation: IAMTech's Strategy for Staying Ahead in Industrial Tech.

Staying ahead of the competition isn’t just about having the latest gadgets or cutting-edge equipment. It’s about having the vision to see beyond the horizon, the insight to anticipate what’s coming, and the drive to turn innovation into action.

16.08.24

AI Investments Fuel Transformation in the Oil and Gas Industry: Driving Innovation and Sustainability.

As the world grapples with the complexities of energy production, environmental concerns, and economic pressures, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this industry is becoming increasingly prevalent.

05.08.24

Stormy Seas: UK Tax Hike and Labour’s Green Agenda Shake Up North Sea Oil and Gas

The UK’s decision to raise taxes on North Sea oil and gas production has provoked strong reactions from industry players and set the stage for a complex interplay of economic, political, and environmental factors. As the country navigates this challenging landscape, the outcomes will have significant implications for its energy future and economic stability, particularly under the new Labour government’s more stringent environmental policies.

19.07.24

Turnarounds Demand Control: Are you Ready?

How Digitalisation Can Revolutionise Your Turnaround Performance, Ensuring Timely and Budget-Friendly Execution.

11.07.24

Act Now to Weather the Storm – Invest in Reliability

As the wider industry continues to struggle with unplanned outages, savvy organisations are seeing this as an opportunity to invest in improving plant reliability to capture market value - Read on to help your organisation Weather the Storm!

24.06.24

Trade Secrets for Mastering Maintenance Planning and Scheduling

Our latest article explores maintenance planning and scheduling, exploring its complexities and offering insights into turning operational frustrations into gateways for continuous improvement.

13.06.24

Software Selection Simplified: Configuration vs Customisation.

In the journey towards software selection, the terms "configuration" and "customisation" often appear interchangeable. However, these words hold distinct meanings and implications that can significantly impact your software investment. Understanding these differences is crucial for making an informed decision that aligns with your organisations needs and budget.

23.05.24

Tactics to Successful Software Implementation: A Common, Agreed Vision Coupled with Strong Leadership.

In our last newsletter, we emphasised the importance of stakeholder involvement, engagement, and empowerment from the outset of any software project. This week, we explore the need for a common, agreed vision coupled with strong leadership—integral components for any successful software project.

10.05.24

Stakeholder Sync: Tactics to Successful Software Implementation

The right software can revolutionise operations, but the path from selection to full utilisation is complex and filled with potential pitfalls. This week, we discuss why involving, freeing up, and empowering stakeholders from the outset is not just beneficial—it's essential.

25.04.24

Language Alignment: The Key to Seamless Software Integration

This article explores the crucial role of language alignment between software providers and organisations for successful software integration. Highlighting the challenges of diverse terminologies across industries, it underscores strategies to enhance communication and streamline the adoption process, drawing on insights from Ross Coulan's talk, 'Secrets to a Successful STO'.

09.04.24

Beyond paper: How IAMPermit is reshaping safety compliance in the digital age.

In the shift towards digital workspaces, the need for digitalising safety and compliance documentation has become paramount. Traditional paper-based methods, fraught with inefficiencies and high non-compliance risks, are being replaced by innovative digital solutions. IAMPermit by IAMTech stands out as a key player in this transformation. As a SaaS offering, it revolutionises the management of work activities, including permits, isolations (LOTO), and job safety assessments (JSA). Read on to find out how IAMPermit can help to reshape and improve safety compliance within your organisation.

21.03.24

Navigating the Digital Transformation Journey within Industry 4.0: A Blueprint for Evolution!

This article is your guide to navigating the vast terrain of digital transformation, from pinpointing where to start, to choosing the right technologies, and safeguarding your journey with robust cybersecurity. Ready to take the first step? Let's explore the essentials for a successful transition into the digital era.

28.02.24

Future-Proofing Plant Maintenance: A Holistic Approach with Emerging Technologies

The IAMTech team had the privilege of attending the NEPIC Asset Management Conference at Hardwick Hall last week. Speakers divulged the challenges and opportunities facing today's industrial landscape. From aging assets to soaring maintenance costs, we're witnessing a pivotal shift towards proactive maintenance strategies. In our latest article, discover how industry leaders are reshaping the landscape of plant maintenance, emphasising a holistic approach that integrates energy efficiency and cutting-edge technologies as fundamental pillars of success.

13.02.24

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to Outage Management with iPlanSTO

This article explores effective outage management strategies and how iPlanSTO can revolutionise the approach to both planned and unplanned outages.

31.01.24

Cracking the Code: The Ultimate Guide to Effective Internal Benchmarking Practices in Industry

Opting for internal benchmarking often proves more resource-efficient, both in terms of time and financial investment. Unlike external benchmarking, which demands access to often elusive or expensive competitor data and insights, internal benchmarking focusses on your organisation's own processes. This introspective approach facilitates the identification of best practices, highlights inefficiencies, and uncovers areas ripe for enhancement. With a thorough understanding of your internal workings, you can craft targeted improvement plans that are finely tuned to your company's specific challenges and opportunities.

16.01.24

Mastering Modern Industry: From Compliance to Triumph with Strategic Standardisation in STO Turnarounds.

Explore how the convergence of strategic standardisation and cutting-edge technology is reshaping the landscape of Shutdowns, Turnarounds, and Outages (STO) in modern industries. Ready to master the future of industry?

19.12.23

Precision in Every Phase: How iPlanSTO Elevates Daily Operations for End Users.

In the intricate world of STOs, where precision is paramount, iPlanSTO emerges as a comprehensive and user friendly solution that elevates daily operations for all members of a Turnaround Team.

06.12.23

A Helpful Explanation of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Surrounding Permit to Work and the Consequences of Non-Compliance.

Navigating the Legal Landscape of Work Permits: A Comprehensive Insight IAMTech's latest newsletter delves into the intricate world of Permit to Work (PTW) systems and the significant repercussions of non-compliance. PTW isn't just a safety measure; it's a legal imperative. This systematic approach ensures hazardous tasks are executed safely, but failing to adhere to regulations can lead to severe consequences, including fines and criminal charges. As technology evolves, digital PTW systems like IAMPermit are replacing traditional formats. Find out how these solutions can streamline processes and enhance safety measures.

21.11.23

Navigating the Digital Transformation Journey: Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change in Industry.

In our latest newsletter, we discuss essential strategies for guiding your workforce and organisation through the transformative journey of the Digital Age. In today's dynamic industrial landscape, digital transformation has evolved from a mere choice into an absolute necessity. This sweeping wave of change holds the promise of increased safety, enhanced efficiency, heightened competitiveness, and boundless innovation. However, there's a significant hurdle blocking the path to progress—FEAR! Many employees within businesses, steeped in traditional methods, paper based or Excel, may find it challenging to embrace digital solutions. In this blog post, we take a deep dive into how organizations can address these apprehensions and empower their employees to successfully navigate the digital transformation journey. We'll explore the reasons behind some workers' reluctance towards digital transformation and provide insights into overcoming these challenges through training, effective communication, fostering a digital-friendly culture, and providing unwavering support.

11.10.23

Unlocking Profit Potential: The Benefits of STO Software for Businesses

In our latest newsletter we discuss profit potential and the benefits of STO Software for businesses. In the world of industrial operations, every moment of downtime comes with a hefty price tag. In this article, we'll explore the numerous benefits of STO software for businesses, shedding light on how it can help unlock profit potential and streamline operations.

25.05.23

The Benefit of Using Norms Based Estimation

By embracing norms-based estimation and utilising iPlan software, organisations can optimise their STO events, reduce risks of cost overruns and delays, and drive continuous improvement. This approach provides a solid foundation for effective planning and execution, ultimately leading to increased STO efficiency and profitability for the asset owner operator by increasing the likelihood of successfully meeting the plant startup.

16.05.23

The origin of Permit-To-Work (PTW) systems

In the 1970s, the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced a permit to work system as part of its guidance on the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations. This system required companies to obtain permits before carrying out certain types of work, and included detailed procedures for hazard identification, risk assessment, and permit issuance.

18.04.23

How iPlanSTO can help you streamline your STO events and achieve optimal performance

STO (Shutdown – Turnaround – Outage) events can be extremely challenging for companies, often resulting in significant downtime (planned & unplanned), lost revenue from loss of production (planned & unplanned), and an increase in safety risks. Here at IAMTech, we've developed a software solution that simplifies the planning and execution of STO events and helps you minimise downtime, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. With iPlanSTO, we're confident that we can help you streamline your STO events and improve your events performance.

04.04.23

Why we chose to combine Isolations & Permit To Work management into a single system

In many cases, a Permit To Work will require the use of Isolations to ensure the safety of workers during the work activity. For example, if a worker needs to carry out maintenance on a piece of machinery that involves hot work, they will need to obtain a PTW to ensure that the work is planned and carried out safely. As part of the PTW process, the worker will need to ensure that the machinery is isolated and locked out using Isolations procedures before commencing work.

21.03.23

Work Packs: Reducing Risks of Injury to Maintenance Workers During Process Plant Shutdowns and Turnarounds

One of the main challenges during shutdowns is managing the health and safety of maintenance workers who are exposed to various hazards. In this context, the implementation of work packs can significantly reduce the risk of injury to maintenance workers. This article will discuss the benefits of work packs in mitigating risks during process plant shutdowns and turnarounds.

07.03.23

What are the benefit's of moving from a paper based permit to work system, to a software based permit to work system?

Many industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas, have traditionally relied on paper-based permit systems, and some organisations may still be using paper-based systems due to a variety of reasons, such as lack of awareness about software-based solutions, budget constraints, or resistance to change; however, digitizing processes in industry can help organisations operate more efficiently, safely, and effectively, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.

21.02.23

Activity Duration versus Activity Manhours – Is one more important than the other?

When building a schedule in Primavera for a process plant turnaround, both the total manhours and the total duration of each activity are important factors to consider, but they serve different purposes.

21.01.23

Monte Carlo Risk-Based Simulation: An Effective Tool to Determine Optimum Scope in Turnaround Worklist

To ensure that the turnaround is successful, it is essential to plan and execute it efficiently, considering the various risks and uncertainties associated with the process.

13.12.22

3 Operator/Contractor STO Co-working Challenges (and how to overcome them)

In this blog we look at the increasing dependence on external contractors to help execute the majority of STO’s, the pitfalls, and how to avoid failure when executing your next turnaround! The key challenges we look at are: ● Skills and Coordination ● Lack of Asset Knowledge ● Measuring and Optimising Productivity We will then look at how to overcome these challenges to dramatically increase your productivity and create robust working relationships with your contractors using iPlan from IAMTech

09.12.22

How To Avoid Scope Creep in Your Next STO

In this blog we look at what scope creep is and 5 ways to avoid it when planning for your next shutdown turnaround outage project. Five key areas covered are: 1. Establishing the needs and parameters 2: The importance of thorough planning 3: Using technology and automation to increase efficiency 4: Choosing the right team, clearly defining their roles, empowering them, and giving them the required working time for the role 5: Adhering to your Management of Change process