Enhanced efficiency in pipeline assembly and construction
Meeting the specified Hi-Lo value during line pipe welding can be challenging. Hi-Lo, which is the acceptable pipe misalignment, rules pipe construction. Therefore, the variability in pipe geometry requires a trial & error process at the fit-up station, which slows down operations and impacts project planning.
To optimize this process, the innovative Smartengo Best Fit solution calculates achievable Hi-Lo right after the pipe manufacturing and allows welders to efficiently meet defined value. For all possible pipe-end combinations of the batch, the solution’s algorithm will calculate Hi-Lo values. Its capacity to perform all of these calculations makes this solution 100% deterministic – unlike existent probabilistic solutions. This analysis makes it possible to anticipate upcoming operations and adapt welding procedures.
When accurately identifying the pipes that fit together, Smartengo Best Fit prevents delays in the welding process: the solution delivers an economy of up to 4 hours in the manufacturing process for every 100 welds. Previously, every single fitting had to be tested, which required more time in the process and left room for errors.
Data analysis is automatic, using a precise deterministic approach. This allows users to design the production flow according to the specified Hi-Lo or to reduce Hi-Lo, resulting in increased time savings and welding process efficiency, among other operational benefits.
Operational efficiency is achieved with the intuitive and easy-to-use Best-Fit-Finder application, that provides welding teams with pipe-alignment instructions, when the sequencing required by existing methods is not necessary.
The application provides instant information on compatibility or incompatibility, if compatibility can be achieved by rotating the pipe or if the pipe must be temporarily removed from operations and then reintroduced at a later stage. It also allows the compatibility areas to be marked on each product, and is autonomously operated by the teams.
Now, with Smartengo Best Fit you can anticipate operations by eliminating non-conformities, obtain full visibility on achievable Hi-Lo, remove operational drawbacks of existing solutions and train welding teams. All this leads to safer and more efficient operations.
