Page 18 - Suncor 360 - October 2014

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FEATURE
OCTOBER 2014
360

We’re taking a regional view of things

Wood Buffalo is a big area.

All told, the Regional Municipality covers nearly 64,000 square kilometres (39,768 square miles),

with Suncor operations scattered all across north-eastern Alberta.

If you focus on the distances between our various sites – from base plant to MacKay River or from Firebag to Fort Hills,

for instance – the Wood Buffalo picture seems terribly disconnected. But when you step back and take a broader regional
view, it becomes much easier to connect the dots...and to realize the value that dot-connecting promises.

As GM of Field Logistics, Rob Carter knows “The group’s purpose is to bring rigour, To date, the IOT’s successes include lodge

first-hand the costs and inefficiencies of governance and understanding between cost reduction, flight optimization and
disconnected dots.
the business units on the demand side, improved busing services. On the aviation

contractors on the service fulfilment side side alone, scheduling optimization netted
“Ultimately,” says Rob, “our challenge is to and Field Logistics as the supply conduit nearly $19.4 million in value for the
draw as straight a line as possible between
between them,” says Rob. “Since demand company in 2013 – not to mention
supply and demand. For example, when and supply affect cost, the best way to reducing fuel consumption by nearly
effective shift scheduling and demand
reduce costs is to concurrently find 4 million litres (1 million gallons) as well as
forecasting by the business units comes efficiencies and eliminate waste in both the corresponding carbon footprint.
together with efficient provisioning by Field
demand and supply.”
Logistics, we reduce waste, drive costs Solutions outside the silo
Wendi Ulan, director O & I integration,
down and create tremendous value.”
Upstream, says a regional perspective is Field Logistics isn’t alone in realizing the
With the goal of keeping our planes, buses benefits of big-picture thinking.
key to the team’s success. Collaboration
and lodge accommodations as full as takes a broader view of the needs and
possible (as empty seats and empty rooms A couple of years ago, Suncor had what
opportunities of all businesses in the
are wasteful), Rob and the Integration and region, revealing a lot of options previously you might call an epiphany. With major
Optimization Team (IOT) are energetically new initiatives like Fort Hills rapidly ramping
unseen and with significant benefit.
focused on connecting dots whose up as other projects were drawing closer to
connections, historically, have been a little “By improving forecast processes, tools, the end of their lifecycle, we realized we

too loose.
training and metrics, we will see forecast needed a long-term strategy to grow and
variances below 10 per cent and savings in sustain our core business in Wood Buffalo.

As members of the IOT, representatives
excess of $1 million a year,” says Wendi, an So in early 2012, we created the Regional
from Field Logistics and the business units Development department.
IOT member. “Accurate forecasts help Field
operating in Wood Buffalo – Oil Sands &
Logistics to plan and determine whether or
In Situ and Major Projects – share knowledge, Led by VP Chris Grant, the group has
not additional assets, like lodges or busing,
identify and prioritize opportunities, and need to be secured. We’re also equipping grown to about 130 people. It brings
work together to address the needs for together development and technical
leaders with improved reporting to help
facilities, lodging and transportation across them understand their area’s usage of professionals from Oil Sands, In Situ, Major
the Wood Buffalo region.
Projects and other areas. By identifying
facilities and enable better decision-making.”