TOTAL - Enhanced Product Transportation Safety
June 3, 2010
TOTAL Africa & Middle East Division: SAFE-TO-LOAD vehicle inspection with ArioForm for Windows...
TOTAL is the fifth largest publicly-traded integrated international oil and gas company, and a world-class chemicals manufacturer. The group operates in more than 130 countries and has 96,950 employees. In 2008, overall sales for the TOTAL Group reached €179.9 billion.
TOTAL transports hazardous materials every day. Efficient risk management for product transportation is supported by action plans tailored to each mode of transportation. MGStream’s innovative solution, ArioForm for Windows, was chosen by TOTAL to greatly enhance road transportation security in Africa and the
Philippe Delécluse, Transport Manager for TOTAL’s
Road accidents account for nearly 80% of Total’s transportation accidents, thus warranting the special attention paid to this challenge.
Improved Safety Performance Tracking
TOTAL chose MGStream’s solution because it is easy to implement and user-friendly. “What really attracted us to the solution is that it does not change the users’ habits, Delécluse continued. The employees inspecting the trucks are comfortable with carrying out the inspections using a pen and a paper form. Adding the tablet brings additional comfort as it serves as a rigid support for the paper form while it records the information as the form is filled out. The form itself is the same one that the inspectors are accustomed to using. Therefore, there is no need for special training. Most importantly, now the data are automatically recorded, analyzed and managed, and the results are received instantly.”
With the former “pen and paper” method, it was necessary to enter the handwritten data in a computer, and it often took one or two months for the regional subsidiaries to get the data, if it was received at all. Therefore, MGStream’s ArioForm for Windows saves time in essentially two respects – there is no longer the need to re-enter the data collected on the forms, and no longer the need to wait for the data to arrive and take action on it. This means the subsidiaries have all the information they need in a timely manner to ensure that anomalies are detected and eliminated.
The statistics generated by the data collected provide safety performance tracking indicators. The results from the automatic analysis include the primary anomalies detected per storage facility, the number of anomalies per transporter, the main anomalies detected, the vehicles showing defects, and other critical safety factors.
The Safe-to-Load vehicle safety checks are now part of TOTAL’s twelve “Golden Rules” (compulsory activities). It is important to note that TOTAL does not own any trucks in the regions -- the trucks and the drivers are leased by TOTAL. With MGStream’s solution, the subsidiaries in the region now have all the information they need to ensure the trucking companies adhere to the security compliance rules set forward by TOTAL. The data gathered with Safe-to-Load enables the subsidiaries to detect trucking companies with repeated anomalies, and vehicles with repeated anomalies. If a trucking company does not comply with the safety requirements, it will lose its contract with TOTAL.
Rapid Return on Investment
TOTAL’s product evaluation process included a business case concerning the ROI for the acquisition of MGStream’s solution. Philippe Delécluse calculated the number of items from the safety checks that needed to be entered into a computer, and the time required to enter the data. His study revealed that the number of items to be recopied came to about fourteen million yearly. It became clear that, in addition to improving security on the roads through systematic vehicle safety checks, TOTAL would also save money in terms of time and resources with MGStream’s solution.
“The cost of the solution is reasonable, and it corresponds perfectly to our requirements. In addition, the Safe-to-Load form using ArioForm for Windows is in compliance with the company’s overall risk management policy,” said Delécluse.
Flexibility for Specific Requirements
TOTAL made the decision to adopt MGStream’s solution based not only on the technology, but also on the fact that MGStream was willing to adapt its solution to TOTAL’s requirements. “MGStream adapted its software to our specifications, which enabled us to take the solution on board as a “TOTAL-branded” product. Even the user manual was customized and simplified for our users.”
“We are entirely satisfied with the partnership with MGStream and the solution. It was delivered on time and to our specifications. The technical support is efficient and quick. As a referenced supplier at TOTAL, we are positively open to continuing to work with MGStream on future projects,” concluded Delécluse.
Business needs:
- Systematic vehicle safety checks with Safe-to-Load
- Improve product transportation safety
- Homogeneous solution for all subsidiaries
- Data collected and analyzed automatically
- The Safe-to-Load vehicle safety check has become a “Golden Rule” at TOTAL
Problems:
- Safety checks were carried out sporadically
- Data was often not recorded and analyzed
- The process required improvement and streamlining to increase utilization by inspectors
- The roads in a region can be of poor quality, thus reinforcing the need for safety checks
- Required a solution based on a previous, well understood system
Solutions:
- ArioForm for Windows enables capture, consolidation and analysis of data
- Solution adapted to TOTAL’s specifications
- TOTAL-branded solution for increased uptake in the field
Benefits:
- Solution eliminates re-entering data and thus translates to cost savings
- Efficiency is increased through automatic analysis of data
- The automatically analyzed data is converted into knowledge, thus enabling the subsidiaries to quickly implement action plans
- An affordable solution, usable on a large scale, and yielding an almost immediate ROI
- Solution complies with TOTAL’s overall risk management policy
