Onix signs deal with Equinor
Onix lands an agreement with Equinor to deliver its solution for inspection and maintenance of loose equipment to all platforms on the Norwegian continental shelf.
In a time when the energy industry faces a range of challenges and scrutiny, from price fluctuations to stringent ESG requirements, it is more important than ever that efficiency and safety are focus areas.
Smart, digital, forward thinking approaches to equipment management can improve operations for workers and for businesses. The results can be seen in bottom lines, but most importantly in developing strong safety and compliance cultures.
Two distinct features stand out in the energy industry: the intense focus on safety, and a constant mission to prevent operational disruptions. It is for these two reasons that companies operating within the industry can benefit from a more conscious and proactive approach to the management of their work equipment.
Onix has taken on the mission of digitalizing management of work equipment in one open software platform, so that businesses can benefit realise the benefits of improve equipment oversight. In the energy industry, this means operators can focus on core activities without compliance headaches, lacking information or uncertainty over safety.
Traditionally, managing work equipment has been a cumbersome process, often involving manual checks, paper archives, endless spreadsheets, and a lack of overview. This called for a revolution. Bernt Håvardsholm, the founder of Onix, recognized this as early as 1995.
What he envisioned was for owners of work equipment to have all equipment data in one place – accessible anytime, from anywhere. A world where inspection reports, maintenance plans, and equipment certifications are just a few clicks away.
The software that Bernt and his colleagues at Onix developed was initially created to address specific and practical challenges faced by equipment owners in the oil and gas industry. Their daily operations were characterized by cumbersome documentation handling, often leading to safety gaps and unfortunate consequences in terms of safety.
These solutions eventually proved to significantly enhance efficiency within energy companies, and were adopted by key industry players including Equinor and Shell.
Onix software is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. There's no need for advanced technological knowledge to get you started. Within minutes administrators and workers alike can be be navigating the system like a pro to access all the information they need.
This ease of use translates to practical safety. All your relevant users have access to work equipment documentation, such as user manuals, declarations of conformity, and inspection records. Not only does this promote good safety practices, it also makes it easier to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Onix software isn't just about making life easier; it's also about making operations more productive. By digitalizing processes, time-consuming paperwork is eliminated and safety grey areas are removed, freeing up user to focus on what they do best.
Automated notifications ensure workers stay updated and nothing is overlooked.
When considering the key contributing factors to efficiency gains with digital tools in the energy industry, there are five common sources:
There exists across several sectors, including the energy industry, a "use and throw away" mentality where, for instance, slings are used once, remain perfectly usable, yet end up in waste bins. It is simply considered easier, lower risk and potentially cheaper to adopt a single-use approach, than to conduct maintenance and inspections. This is of course an economic and environmental concern which has led to commentators asking what can be done.
Bjarne Roland, affiliated with the editorial team of Kranteknikk, has frequently expressed concerns about such practices. He underscores the need to address this apparent wastage, especially when considering the resources spent on monitoring soft lifting gear. The central issue is: can we devise a system that offers cost-effective sling inspection while promoting sustainable reuse?
Kranteknikk has initiated discussions on this pressing matter, prompting its community members and readership to weigh in with their perspectives.
Onix CEO and founder, Bernt Håvardsholm, has also been actively reflecting on this issue and brainstorming solutions:
With modern technology, it's entirely feasible for equipment owners to perform sling inspections quickly, safely, and more profitably than buying new ones. What's needed is a unique and standardized tagging system for work equipment such as slings. Onix has had functionality for this for over a decade with both RFID, QR and NFC tags.
When considering the task of reading multiple pieces of equipment in one operation, equipment identification using the UHF-type RFID stands out as the ideal choice for equipment owners. It's crucial to note that this RFID type is becoming increasingly popular in logistics and goods handling across various industries. Prominent fashion chains like Levis, Zara, and Hennes & Mauritz utilize the same standardized equipment identification technology that is integrated into Onix Work.
Onix is dedicated to continuous improvements and innovation that meet and exceed both requirements and norms. The Onix Work platform is designed to champion efficiency with an ultimate goal of improving safety for all those using work equipment.
Investing in digitalization can have significant benefits for all elements of business practise across sectors. Many businesses are now fully embracing digitalization as a means to improve the bottom line, ensure compliance, improve image and attract both employees and customers.
The pursuit of increased efficiency in the energy industry is never-ending, and Onix will continue to play its role by aiding companies to stay ahead, simplify processes, enhance safety, and "boost" productivity. It's all about doing things increasingly better.
