Page 24 - Suncor 360 - October 2014

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FEATURE
OCTOBER 2014
360

Don’t Dodge the issue.

Corporate standards

are a Prelude to value

A gal who drives a Honda Prelude marries a guy who drives a Dodge Ram.

No big deal, right? True love, as they say, conquers all.

But soon enough the bubble bursts. Her reflected a variety of site philosophies. It that’s always used threaded piping to
Honda needs new spark plugs but none of was very siloed...and terribly inefficient.
suddenly switch to welded. But with plenty

his spare parts fit. He insists they carpool to of consultation and collaboration, Rick and
work in his truck but their monthly fuel “There are numerous benefits to adopting his team have made great progress.
standards for purchasing equipment. It
costs skyrocket. His mechanic refuses to
touch a Honda, and hers has no idea what improves reliability, streamlines operations “Because different businesses have
and drives down costs in many areas – different operating philosophies, getting
a ‘hemi’ V8 is.
maintenance, for example, and the agreement around consistent standards can

The plight of these young lovebirds warehousing of spare parts. And instead of be challenging. Even something as basic as
illuminates some of the issues Rick diluting our purchasing power by sourcing the temperature limitations of piping can

McFarlane and his team have been battling material 10 different ways from the same cause debate. A lot of the work we do
by creating and maintaining corporate vendors, a consolidated set of standards involves meeting with the different

standards for new equipment purchases.
allows Suncor to capitalize on economies businesses and collaborating toward a
of scale while reducing the chances of consistent standard.
“The standards we’re developing guide
error or confusion.”
the purchase of equipment for new “We do recognize, of course, that
facilities and facility upgrades,” says Rick adds that working from a single, different facilities and operations work

Suncor’s director of technical standards. consistent standard creates continuity for with different asset classes; and if a
“The aim is to establish consistent criteria employees and engineering contractors business case supports it, our standards

to follow when buying or replacing who move among business units. “They allow for ‘technical deviations’ with the

equipment. It’s all about consistency – don’t have to step back and learn new appropriate review.
one way across the company.”
systems all the time.”
“In the end,” Rick emphasizes, “adhering

Why one way?
Collaborating through to consistent corporate standards supports
the pushback
our common goal of operating safe and
“Following the 2009 merger,” says Rick,
reliable facilities – the big picture everyone
“Suncor had different sets of standards. Just as it isn’t easy to get a Dodge Ram at Suncor needs to work toward.”
The two legacy companies and the aficionado to ride to work in his wife’s

different business units had standards that
Honda Prelude, it’s not easy for a business