Beginning and Integrating a Lessons Learned Program for a Pipeline Company

摘要

When Colonial Pipeline Co. began an “Operational Excellence” program to improve system integrity and humanperformance; one of the program elements deemed necessary was a lessons learned program. The initial goal wasthe development of a database and the design and introduction of an incident analysis process. In 1999, wedeveloped an elementary application for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned, near misses, andperformance improvement recommendations. In 1999-2000, an incident analysis method was introduced tomanagement and employees of the company through training classes and practical applications along a pipelinesystem that begins in Houston, Texas and ends in Linden, New Jersey. The incident management method and thelessons learned program are now integral elements in system safety at Colonial Pipeline Co.Between 2000 and 2002, the lessons learned program was improved through the application of usability principles,and it is now an “Operational Performance Information System (OPIS).” It is also used to capture and disseminateinformation related to abnormal operations, project management, and actual incidents. Employees and managementuse the program extensively. Processes have been developed to ensure that corrective actions are identified andimplemented for the pipeline system. OPIS has assisted in increasing collaboration and cooperation between theoperating, technical, and engineering functions of the company. The company continues to enhance OPIS in 2004,by adding a repair-reporting feature.A desire for continuous improvement has led to customization of the incident management method for pipelinecompanies. By 2003, the incident management process has led the company in changing the culture from one thatpaid little attention to the causes of incidents to a learning culture that widely disseminates information in order toenhance knowledge and improve performance. This paper provides a detailed explanation of the development,introduction, and improvement process in the lessons learned program.