Crayola Colors: Sign of Complexity?

One of my Facebook friends posted a picture illustrating the evolution of Crayola crayons, from eight colors in 1903 to 120 colors now. I started thinking this is an excellent representation of today’s complexity. Life was simpler when I was a child 50 years ago. I remember when Crayola introduced 64 colors. Now there are 120 colors. There are more shades of meaning that can be expressed with additional colors.

Would any of us want to live as people did in 1903? I applaud and celebrate progress. What I want to remember is that life is more complex, which requires more attention to planning and risk analysis.

Posted January 27th, 2010 in Observations

China Trip in 2010

Later this year, I will be speaking at the 2010 Interpipe Exhibition and Conference in Langfang, China.  The paper I present will be about the training we provided for pipeline controllers of PetroChina.  While in China, I am happy to be doing consulting work with PetroChina.  My professional mission is to use my knowledge and skills to help people improve their performance..

I like the Chinese proverb:  Repair the roof before it rains. Think about times when you have postponed pipeline repairs, preventive maintenance, or training for improved knowledge.  We do these things in the name of “meeting the budget.”   Then a tank collapses, or a pipeline leaks, or an employee makes a costly error due to lack of knowledge.

And the budget that was so important does not get met, it gets exceeded.   So I am happy when PetroChina wants to learn, to benchmark, to improve.  They are laying thousands of miles of new pipelines, and technology is only part of safe operations.  The people who use the technology are the ones who ensure safe operations.

Posted January 27th, 2010 in Leadership, Observations

Dirty Dozen Cause of Errors – Fatigue

Pipelines with control centers are facing a regulation that requires the prevention of human fatigue. Fatigue of shiftworkers definitely is a cause of errors and mistakes.  The one page article provides useful information.

Article on Fatigue

Posted January 27th, 2010 in Dirty Dozen Articles