James Wendelken - Articles and Insight

About James Wendelken

James Wendelken (BSME, MBA) is the founder of Capformance.

James helps companies improve productivity, standards, reliability and safety while gaining greater competitive advantage through people, reducing uncertainty and setting employee groups up for success.

Financial Executives’ Recommendations for Technology Deployment

In September, I spoke at The Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG) Houston Chapter meeting on ways various business functions can work together to speed and improve technology deployment in industries. The financial executives I spoke with had great feedback on how and why deploying new technologies in industries such as the energy industry is not as simple as mandating changes and requirements.

The reality is that it’s a supreme challenge to tie new technologies into industry decision making.

There are risks with anything new, and it’s work for engineers and operations professionals to assimilate new solutions into what they do. For example, incorporating composite materials into products requires changes in manufacturing, testing, assembly, operations and maintenance procedures.

With anything new in industries, it’s the collective effort of people pointing each other in the right direction that constructively leads to success. At the meeting, there were many positive ideas and messages expressed by the executives for business functions to generate greater results working together.

Greater Returns from Technology Deployment

The oil & gas industry can generate greater returns by speeding and improving technology deployment, which brings with it significant reliability and safety demands. The following is a quote from a senior executive expressing the difficulties of technology deployment in the oil & gas industry.

“We all want to make money and it does us no good to develop leading edge innovation if we can’t deploy it.”

– Lloyd’s Register Energy, “A focus on technology deployment, Oil & Gas Technology Radar, Houston Executive Briefing,” 2015

This isn’t surprising. The oil & gas industry has a very challenging combination of:

Innovation & change
Lots of people, functions & specializations
Many different types of companies
Many different types of equipment and structures
Many different suppliers and service providers competing
Major construction projects

A technology manager I know in the oil & gas industry has stated that injecting new technologies into oil companies is the biggest battle in the industry. The reality in engineering and operations departments is that there are all sorts of tasks, changes and resources people are responsible for.

Employee positions have many specializations, so mandating change is difficult. For example, you typically can’t just say all mechanical engineers in a company need to have all the skills necessary to run a certain piece of equipment. With new things comes uncertainty and people asking the question, “Will our employees be able to constructively tie this into their decision making and resources used for the benefit of the company?”

People Impacting Success – 6 Stages

Executives express a lot of concern over whether or not solutions will play out successfully based on people challenges from engineering to operations.

In fact, there are really “6 Stages” we discussed that dictate how successfully an industry solution is deployed, and these “6 Stages” require multiple contributors from various functions:

1. Determining how functions/groups impact productivity and avoid problems

2a. Keying in on how and why solutions will play out successfully

2b. Building out what should become part of managers’ decision making

3a. Determining the best ways to assimilate solutions

3b. Tying solutions into company/industry

3c. Improving the utilization of solutions, resources and cross functional support

Just consider all of the varying contributions it takes to get composite materials reliably incorporated into engineering designs. At first, departments are reluctant to use composites, and many problems are caught in test labs and elsewhere. The following are just some of the functions that play a role in both increasing productivity and avoiding costly problems as they make their contributions.

Insights from Financial Executives

Considering that companies look at both ROI (Return On Investment) and how and why solutions will “play out” successfully, I posed these questions to the financial executives,

“How can we strengthen your convictions that solutions are good?”

“How can we shine a light on the effectiveness of solutions in your mind?”

“How is finance best involved in the above ‘6 Stages’ of solution deployment?”

Their insights were very significant as they key in on ways finance can help improve technology deployment in industries. The following is some of what was recommended.

Contributions Improving Technology Deployment

Engineering workforce challenges and company processes are intertwined. As decisions and resources improve, finance can better track data, success and failure stories, and resources while improving their understanding of investment choices. This can then feedback into improved design processes, operations processes and investment decisions.

Engineering departments have “stages” for their design processes along with “gate” meetings for getting to the next “stage.” As various functions such as finance constructively contribute to workforce solutions associated with technology deployment and spread successes, they can improve the effectiveness of engineering design processes throughout the “stages” and “gates.”

It was also said that accounting has process and workforce challenges similar to engineering. As oil companies spread their solutions to these challenges, various departments can increase their contributions to both improving productivity and avoiding costly problems.

This makes technology deployment more successful for all of the “6 Stages,” and as the “6 Stages” improve, so do speed, reliability, safety and the effectiveness of the financial function. In turn, money gets allocated to the right resources, projects and companies more easily, and greater returns are generated with less risk.

This is good for everyone.

Progress at National Energy Technology Laboratory

At the 2015 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), which was held May 4-7 in Houston, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) presented many of their current projects.

It was great to see how NETL is collaborating with industry on many initiatives aimed at improving safety, reliability and environmental responsibility.

The following are some of the highlights.

Assessment Model for Gulf of Mexico

Kelly Rose, Geology & Geospatial Team Lead, Office of Research & Development at NETL presented “NETL’s Gulf of Mexico Integrated Assessment Model, Spatial Data Approaches to Improve Production and Reduce Risks of Impacts.”

NETL has created several tools “to produce science-based evaluations of engineered and natural systems, to ensure sustainable, environmentally responsible access to domestic resources.”

For example, subsurface and other data are essentially mapped in the Gulf of Mexico which can help industry to reduce risks and increase productivity. Additional benefits include informing companies of whether or not they need to invest in expensive, exotic materials. If it is determined that certain wells are not under harsh conditions, cost savings can be made.

NETL is continuing to gain greater data throughout the Gulf of Mexico to be able to serve the needs of the offshore industry. Also, many of the approaches being developed “are flexible and adaptable for a wider range of uses and needs.”

Variable Grid Method

NETL’s Variable Grid Method (VGM) was also showcased as it is a cutting-edge approach to analyze and display data uncertainty on a map. While colors display variations in an examined variable, squares also cover the map like a grid and indicate the certainty of the data by their size. Conveying certainty information can dramatically improve the usefulness of mapped data, allowing oil companies to make more informed decisions.

EDX, Tool for Science-Based Decision Making

With Energy Data eXchange (EDX), NETL has created a tool for data storage and sharing to promote energy solutions among various organizations and companies. The tool helps with data preservation, a challenge that has long plagued organizations. Data can be public or private.

“Public sharing of key R&D results” enables “knowledge transfer, data reuse and data discovery.”

“Secure sharing for R&D development” supports “research development, collaboration and online analytics.”

Wellbore Integrity

Through its research, NETL is also taking steps to improve wellbore integrity. Aditya Tiwari, Petroleum Engineer, Office of Research & Development at NETL explained how they are advancing their understanding of stresses experienced in wells to ensure casing and cement function properly.

Dr. Barbara Kutchko, Physical Scientist, Environmental Science Division, NETL presented findings from their studies of foamed cements which have many advantages for reducing risk.

These are just a small sampling of the initiatives NETL is undertaking to improve operations in the oil and gas industry.

For more information, check out the NETL website.

OTC 2016

Get ready for OTC 2016 with our podcasts, interviews, ebooks, and more. We discuss all of the trends and challenges relevant to this years Offshore Technology Conference.

Challenges & Opportunities in Myanmar

Myanmar is looking to continue its rapid development as companies eye possibilities for growth there.

“In fiscal year (FY) 2014 and 2015, Myanmar averaged 7.8% gross domestic product (GDP) growth – which is significant compared to the 3% growth rate for most economies.”

However, growth in Myanmar is not without significant challenges including:

Shortfalls in electricity “attributable to theft, poor infrastructure, and lack of investment”
Integrating “new technological and industrial capabilities into its economy”

James Wendelken, Principal Capformance and Senior Associate at EKT Interactive, was noted in the below article that,

“Transferring technological capabilities and industry knowledge into foreign countries is challenging because it is very much a constructive process that must be done among the people. It takes time for employees to improve how they utilize resources such as industry standards, technical decision tables, or manufacturing tools, and it takes time to tie knowledge to departmental decision making as departments have various specialized functions and employees contending with change.”

Click the following link for an in-depth article on challenges and opportunities in Myanmar by Jenny Lin, founder of Asia Taktik, in Asia Taktik Perspective. This article spotlights issues companies and industries face globally.

Electricity Challenges in Myanmar: Opportunities for U.S. Companies?

Energy, Sustainability & STEM – Looking Forward

On February 25, 2015, I had the opportunity to speak about how constructive the energy industry is at the “Sustainable Energy for South Texas Symposium” hosted by The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA).

The event highlighted current research directions in energy and oil and gas exploration, with a focus on sustainable technologies.

I shared with students and faculty my perspectives as an engineer and workforce development professional, discussing how the energy industry is fun and challenging because there are so many complex engineering designs, great construction projects and advancing technologies. We learned a lot and came away with positive insights into what companies are doing to improve.

Avenues for Improvement

The symposium brought together speakers, faculty and students of various expertise to collectively share views on improving sustainability in the energy industry. The discussions really shed light on some of the avenues for improvement.

Other guest speakers and respective topics at the symposium included:

Dr. Robello Samuel, Chief Technical Advisor Halliburton, Keynote – Oil & Gas Industry Trends, Advancements & Sustainable Technologies
Dr. Susan Minkoff, UT-Dallas, Advances in Algorithm Development for Seismic Imaging of the Earth’s Subsurface
Marco Garza, UniqueHR RGV, Initiating your ideas in Engineering, Business, and Community Service
Kevin Wilhelm, CEO, Sustainable Business Consulting & Education, Sustainability as a leadership strategy for the next generation
Dr. Ramon Gonzalez, Rice University, Using Biological Processes for a Sustainable Future

Technological advances

Following are some of the important technological advances explored at the symposium.

Imaging Technology

The industry is capitalizing on advances in imaging technology to improve the exploration for oil and reservoir management, which allows us to extract a greater percentage of the oil trapped in the Earth.

Tracking Systems

Systems that track persons, places and things are advancing, positively affecting safety and compliance.

Horizontal Drilling

Through horizontal drilling, oil and gas companies such as Halliburton have improved oil production efficiency and reduced the surface footprint (land area) of wells.

Fiber Optics

Fiber optics technology is improving so that companies can improve automation and reliability downhole.

Biotechnology

Advances in biotechnology are allowing for the sustainable production of certain industrial chemicals and materials. Below are links to organizations involved in these endeavors.

Gycosbio

ARPA-E

Sustainability increasing as a priority

It was duly noted at the event that investors are looking into the sustainability initiatives of companies more and more across all industries to help secure our future.

Investors are looking into the sustainability initiatives of companies more and more across all industries…

One example of change from the retail industry is how Walmart is working with companies in its supply chain to improve efficiencies and reduce waste.

Constructively working together

I spoke on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professionals and other professionals constructively working with each other to incorporate technological advances and industry knowledge and research into company decision making to:

Avoid costly mistakes and problems
Improve safety
Improve sustainability
Get the most productivity out of people

The more professionals constructively contribute to these goals, the better companies leverage engineering resources and improve procedures, and the resulting reduction in uncertainty leads to more effective change and more sustainable solutions.

This is important for companies to:

Capitalize on “lessons learned” (e.g. near-miss incident information)
Gain from industry organizations
Improve cross functional support
Transfer knowledge into countries when expanding globally
Reduce risk when investing in new technologies

The Office for Sustainability at The University of Texas-Pan American

Based on my experiences conversing with others at the symposium, I am looking forward to seeing the Office for Sustainability at The University of Texas-Pan American drive more and more value for both people and companies.

Marianella Franklin is the Director of the Office for Sustainability, which is taking initiative to leverage solutions and is instilling sustainability thinking, skills and knowledge into practice.

The Office is providing great leadership “not only in incorporating concepts of sustainability into university practice, but also in the creation, dissemination and application of new areas of academic scholarship in the emerging field of sustainability.”

It’s going to be collaborative people who continue to drive better ways of doing things.

Making an Impact

Professionals can have a great impact on huge challenges working in the energy industry. In an advancing industry like the energy industry, it’s important that people fully contribute to the following aspects of improving a company undergoing change.

For details on an efficient process for increasing people’s contributions to these aspects of reliably and safely advancing company capabilities, visit our Advancement Process.

Click here to read the previous article I wrote leading up to the “Sustainable Energy for South Texas Symposium.” It includes advice from energy professionals of various backgrounds and touches on the global need for STEM professionals in such a challenging industry.

Here are some other articles I have previously written on related subjects.

STEM Movement is Important for Our Country

STEM Education Programs in the Oil & Gas Industry

OESI – Data Sharing and Solutions for Safety

University R&D Showcase at Offshore Technology Conference

Constructive Event on Energy & Sustainability

I’m looking forward to speaking at the “Sustainable Energy for South Texas Symposium” on February 25, 2015 as it’s an event on current research directions in energy, oil and gas exploration, with a focus on sustainable technologies.

The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) event is sponsored by Halliburton, and I’m going to be talking about how the industry requires people to be highly constructive (which makes working fun).

Working together

I will be discussing how various functions work together to produce results and how people with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills are valuable assets, critical to safely and reliably improving capabilities throughout the industry.

It’s going to be a lot of fun collaborating with students and faculty at The University of Texas-Pan American and the other speakers. It looks like a lot of good things should come out of this symposium, which will cover a good variety of topics including advancing technologies, sustainable processes, leadership strategies and how to capitalize on employee ideas.

Fun, complex challenges

The energy industry is fun and challenging because there are so many complex engineering designs, great construction projects and advancing technologies. So I gathered advice from people of various backgrounds in the industry to help give color to what people can focus on to provide greater value.

Advice from operations

A good friend with extensive operations experience in the oil and gas industry emphasized the importance of problem solving skills. There are an unlimited number of engineering circumstances and variables in the energy industry, so it pays to know how one change can lead to another.

As an example, my friend was able to solve an electric power problem in a well because he fully understood what he learned in his engineering classes and could manipulate electric lines to reduce resistance. This really saved the company a lot of money, so you can see how being a problem solver increases your job security.

When people learn STEM disciplines, they should use their imaginations to think about problems they can solve. This leads to more sustainable solutions.

Advice from HR

Another good friend offered advice from a Human Resources (HR) perspective.

It is very important to build relationships and understand the culture you are working in as people have to work constructively with each other to get results. If you’re new to a company, it can be a good idea to make a 30/60/90 day plan for yourself to meet people from other functions such as manufacturing, quality, HR and finance.

Always think how you can help groups and ask questions. It’s good to build these relationships so that when you have an emergency, they can help you out. In 30 – 60 days, try to figure out who could mentor you on how to navigate through your organization, but not your boss or another person who would be responsible for your evaluations.

Ask someone who does their job well and creates value for the organization; someone with 7-10 years of experience often works well. I personally had a great mentor at one of my jobs, so I can attest to the benefits. Set up time periodically, and you drive the meetings.

You certainly want to be responsible for developing yourself as a professional.

STEM needs in a global industry

Other engineer friends pointed to the great demand for STEM skills in energy. The industry does have cyclical ups and downs. However, there’s always a need for qualified individuals of varying STEM backgrounds.

For example, mechanical engineers are required to design advanced equipment to reliably extract oil and gas from great depths in the ocean where there are often super high pressures and extreme temperature ranges to contend with.

Civil engineers are needed to build the offshore structures that are equipped for operations and house all the personnel.

Chemical engineers provide innovative solutions for preventing solids formation to increase the efficiency of oil production.

Engineers who understand new technologies and standards are needed to do project management for the building of solar power plants. The list goes on and on, and another thing that makes the energy industry enticing is that it’s a global industry with opportunities to work with people from all over the world to have a positive impact on capabilities and sustainability.

Passionate about learning

It can be very beneficial for people entering the energy industry to research the different areas of the industry to begin to learn how it all works together. People can then further learn details more effectively as they target companies they can provide value for. Hiring managers are impressed by those who know details about their company and industry. Engineers and other professionals are naturally passionate about learning how things function, so talking to experienced employees about expectations and getting involved with industry associations can be very rewarding.

Constructively provide value and overcome challenges

In order to increase company capabilities and reduce the risk of issues, STEM professionals and other professionals should constructively work with each other to:

Avoid costly mistakes and problems
Get the most productivity out of people

The more professionals constructively work with each other to point people in the right direction, the more effectively a company can utilize resources such as decision tables (to select proper seals for example) and near-miss incident information and the more effectively a company can gain the benefits from industry knowledge and advances such as those in industry standards and research.

Now, these are huge challenges professionals can have a great impact on working in the energy industry. In an advancing industry like the energy industry, it’s important that people fully contribute to the following aspects of improving a company undergoing change.

For details on an efficient process for increasing people’s contributions to these aspects of reliably and safely advancing company capabilities, check out this Advancement Process.

Constructive event of great importance

I anticipate the symposium at UTPA will lead to great discussions on reliably driving scientific and technological advances into company decision making to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability. It’s great to be a part of improving companies and industries.

Stay tuned. After the symposium, I will present some of the reactions and findings from those involved including good ways forward.

Here are some articles I have previously written on related subjects.