Speakers Name:
Colin Bartliff
Job title:
Principal Technical Consultant
Organisation:
TÜV Rheinland UK Ltd
Biography:
Colin Bartliff is a Principal Technical consultant with TÜV Rheinland Industrial Services Ltd (TRIS) and Charted with the Institute of Measurement and Control.
Colin has over 40 years of experience in Oil and Gas, Petrochemical, Steel and Power Generation industries including Biomass as an Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering Manager.
Currently, Colin’s role within TRIS is that of a specialist Functional Safety compliance and Alarm Management consultant which includes delivery of general Electrical and Instrumentation engineering best practice.
In addition, Colin has extensive experience with Hazardous Area systems and has recently completed a HAZOP Leaders course and is currently working towards HAZOP Leader accreditation.
Presentation abstract/summary:
Modern industrial operations generate vast volumes of alarms, often overwhelming operators and obscuring critical signals. Ineffective alarm management can lead to alarm fatigue, delayed responses, increased operational risk, and reduced efficiency in particular with Unsteady state conditions such as Startup / Shutdown and Trip scenarios. This presentation explores how smart alarm management strategies can be leveraged to optimise operations by transforming alarm systems from reactive noise generators into proactive decision-support tools.
The session will cover key principles of alarm rationalisation, prioritisation, and intelligent alarm practices , aligned with recognised standards such as EEMUA 191 Edition 4 and IEC 62682. It will also examine how advanced analytics, and intelligent filtering enable smarter alarm handling—ensuring that operators receive the right alarm, at the right time, with the right guidance. Real-world examples will demonstrate how organisations have reduced alarm rates, improved situational awareness, and enhanced safety and productivity with reduced shutdowns / trips.
Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing smart alarm management solutions, integrating them with existing control systems, and measuring their impact on operational excellence.