Executive Interview
Roger Nounou, Global Sales Director, mPACT2WO (Molex)
Published 14th January 2022
We are looking forward to seeing the Case-Study you have with Flint Hills Resources, titled “Refinery Digitalization – An Operator-First Approach” – can you please explain the mPACT2WO focus on the Operator in this journey?
Industrial operators focus on three aspects in their daily work – Anomaly detection, root-cause analysis and corrective actions. mPACT2WO solutions rely on Operator-first approach (IIoT2.0). IIoT2.0 solutions help the operators with early detections instead of their delayed manual methods, data-driven root-cause analysis instead of gut-feel methods, and a response workflow that aligns with existing corrective action workflows. mPACT2WO solutions focus on operator familiarity, trust, and fit with operator work processes to maximize operator-adoption.
With many refiners reticent to invest in digital transformation, why do you think there are barriers to wider adoption of these technologies?
Legacy digital transformation solutions (IIoT1.0) rely on a technology-first approach. The complexities of cutting-edge technologies and the need for leap-of-faith adoption become hurdles to operator adoption. Operator adoption is dictated by their knowhow, risk-averse approach, and the simplicity of what they can trust. This results in promising pilots or proof-of-concept efforts but high-failure rates for wider adoption.
Molex are attending and sponsoring a World Refining Association event for the first time, what brings Molex to the refining space and what are you looking forward to discussing and hearing about at the conference?
mPACT2WO business of Molex has been actively engaged in the refining space for many years. Our solutions involve active collaboration with other Koch companies from concept to active operator adoption. We are looking forward to engaging with and helping broader refining industry customers with our production-proven solutions.
On the topic of Digital Transformation – do you think the pandemic has accelerated many refiners’ digital strategies and what are you and your team seeing in the market with your clients?
The global pandemic has forced refineries to embrace the new norm in many different ways:
- From Operator going to data TO data going to operators
- From monitoring everything to monitoring what matters
- From gut-feel decisions to data-driven decisions
- From crowded facilities to thinned out facilities relying on remote work
mPACT2WO, a Molex business, enables Digital industrial Transformation with IIOT2.0 Solutions.
IIoT2.0 puts industrial back into digital-industrial solutions using minimum viable technology for maximum operator adoption. mPACT2WO solutions include next generation sensors, software, and analytics to optimize regulatory compliance, plant operations, asset utilization and reduce unplanned downtime. This enables Oil & Gas, Chemical, Paper and other industries to transform towards net-zero emissions & sustainability. To find out more, visit mpact2wo.com
Contact: [email protected]
The North American Refining Technology Conference (NARTC) is the World Refining Association’s brand-new regional refining event, connecting US refineries with the cutting-edge technologies that will determine the role of refining in the Energy Transition. To find out more about what to expect at NARTC and see the full line up of speakers and sessions, visit the conference page: