From Analog to AI: The Journey Continues

In an ever-evolving digital world, CAN Group is driving the use of optimised technology for both our own and our clients’ benefits. We understand that our clients' success is intrinsically linked to the integrity and performance of their assets, and our team of experts works tirelessly behind the scenes, embracing innovative technologies and creative solutions to ensure we continue to meet evolving client needs.

We adopt the latest digital technologies for advanced diagnostics, accurate inspections and proactive maintenance strategies to help enhance asset performance and reliability.

From effective project management to offering real-time analysis of inspection data, our suite of digital tools ensures seamless operations and optimised service delivery, by using market-leading technologies and integrating with technology providers.

Integration and Benefits of Digital NDT Technology

Our business transformation into a digital organisation has been a journey, and one that continues to evolve. The asset integrity and inspection arena exemplifies what can be achieved when embracing digital technology, and CAN Group has been invested in this since our inception in 1986. We are continually using next generation digital NDT technology and analysis tools, data visualisation and statistical analysis software to further enhance our service delivery and provide inspection data in new and more meaningful ways. 

Leveraging these technologies, we provide a highly optimised inspection and integrity service. Our clients reap the benefits from increased efficiency, which leads to improved safety, compliance, and overall project outcomes.
However, our digital journey doesn’t stop there, it also goes beyond the technical and is integrated across every avenue of our business, enabling smarter and more efficient ways of working. 

Real-time Data Management

Adopting tablet-based inspection reporting has been a shared goal for many operators for several years, but the challenge in ensuring this tool is a success has been determining how to fully integrate the technology within the overall Integrity Management process. 

CAN Group has been successfully using tablet-based reporting for the last 6 years utilising our proprietary system, CANtab and ENGAGE; producing digital workpacks in the ENGAGE workpack module which are then available immediately to the inspector offshore. 

ENGAGE, our data intelligence solution supports integrity needs across the full asset life cycle and has revolutionised the way inspection data is handled. It offers advanced data management and visualisation capabilities, providing real-time analysis of inspection data. The system enables our clients to access inspection results promptly, allowing for quicker decision-making especially around Anomaly Management.

CANtab integrates with ENGAGE to enable a fully integrated end-to-end inspection data management experience from technicians in the field to office-based engineers worldwide - all information is immediately available for review facilitating safe and efficient operations. These tools ensure that all necessary documentation is prepared accurately and efficiently, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks. As a result, our clients experience a smoother workflow and faster turnaround times for their inspection needs.

Tablet-based reporting eliminates manual data entry, freeing up valuable resource and increasing the efficiency of the overall process, with a clear and traceable digital workflow – a key example of how digitalisation of core processes can deliver very real and tangible added value. 

Contract Performance Assurance  

CAN’s Contract Performance Management tool, CANtime, is pivotal in the creation, implementation and monitoring of project inspection plans, including a detailed analysis of productive and non-productive time and budget monitoring for smart and efficient decision making. The system not only ensures efficient use of our resources but also provides our clients with transparent and detailed insights into how project hours are allocated, leading to enhanced project management, plan attainment metrics, cost control and budget forecasting. By integrating CANtime with our accounting systems and processes, we also achieve streamlined and accurate invoicing through assigned time-writing.

Working closely with our clients to understand and gain upfront visibility of their yearly inspection routines, CAN’s project management team can refine, implement and manage the annual inspection plan, ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources and ‘right sized’ teams. An example of what can be achieved by working smarter through the use of CANtime, CAN successfully demonstrated the ability to reduce POB headcount by 25% as well as overall cost savings of 15% for one of its clients - very real and tangible added value. 

Advanced Inventory Management

Inventory management systems play a crucial role in tracking and managing our equipment, including customs compliance. By managing the full workflow from job initiation to completion, it helps identify peaks in utilisation, ensuring the necessary equipment is available when needed. For our clients, this means reduced downtime and the assurance that the appropriate tools are always at hand to complete projects on schedule. Our solution; CANifest.

The Future

CAN Group’s investment in digitisation continues to yield significant benefits for both the company and its clients. Whether it be artificial or human intelligence driven, team CAN are actively innovating and improving the asset integrity process through our suite of tried and tested digital systems; streamlining operations, enhancing data accuracy and optimising resource utilisation.

This article appeared in the OGV's 2024 Digital Transformation Magazine.