How Many Operators Do You Use to Staff a Unit?

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

How much does it cost you to process a barrel of oil? For many companies in today's environment, the cost is greater than the amount at which it can be sold. Lowering production costs becomes a major concern, and manpower is a key indirect cost. A single post position is estimated to cost $300K to $500K annually depending upon location. Is there a way to determine if current staffing is appropriate or if there are opportunities for reduction?

The answer for any given position(s) requires a detailed assessment, as the workload for comparable jobs can be vastly different given expectations, automation, and reliability. However, it is possible to determine if a position potentially has spare capacity through a comparison to staffing at similar units. For example, one field operator typically is responsible for two hydrotreaters. If you have an operator responsible for only one, it may be appropriate, or it may be that the operator is under-utilized. If your operator has two hydrotreaters, you are likely to be properly staffed.

Beville has a database on operator workload for over 2000 positions from over 1500 units at over 100 plants across North America. We can quickly assess if your current refinery staffing is above or below that seen for your set of units. The result will either be confidence in your current staffing levels or identification of potential opportunities for reduction. For more information on how to take advantage of our 35+ years of data, contact Lisa Via at LVia@Beville.com.

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