1. Hunter, Kenneth GSUSI-PTTITIKE
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Skelton, Ron J GSUSI-PTDITASE
Monday, August 29, 2011 6:51 PM
Jackson, Wanda L GSUSI-PTTITBAM; Paul, Steineacker M GSUSI-PTTITBAM
Reppart, William J GSUSI-PTDITASE; Hunter, Kenneth GSUSI-PTTITIKE; Gibbs, Richard A
GSUSI-PTDIT ASE
EZChrom Support Model for RD labs - UpdateSubject:
The manner in which Shell R&D laboratories use EZChrom is far from straight-forward, hopefully that is no surprise.
Moving to standardized support built on the Downstream model requires changing the way we work now on a global
basis. There are considerations ranging from online process analyzers, to specialized software packages, frequent
configuration changes and the need for remote administration of EZServers. There is also awareness of increasing
security requirements on the business network, current proposed changes, and future ones that could decrease the
flexibility we have now to do our work. For this reason, and to attempt to get global consensus, we have taken some
time to consider .how to implement the proposed changes. I sense some frustration on the part of those in IT who
would like to seethis happen quickly. There are also many in the Analytical group who wish the considerations were
simpler, myself included! It was right to take time to do this as correctly as possible as we must minimize unintended
consequences. Also the current system works, support is fine in most areas and the higher priority over other business
needs was not justifiable.
The good news is that I am confident we now have a reasonably defined set of requirements for our EZChrom system so
that a support system can work for us. There are changes proposed to the Downstream model allowing flexibility for RD,
and very importantly a way forward to required system upgrades including OpenLab. The proposal still covers security-
driven IT needs such as moving Enterprise servers to H02 status and getting computers on a more secure network. We
have also done this in a way that will use a standard Vista image on existing, warranty-covered computer assets where
possible to mitigate upfront costs to the company.
Kenneth has worked hard in the background to hear our many needs, document and find solutions for them. The effort
is much appreciated! He has put together a final document which I reviewing now. It spells out the support model in the
required detail, both short and longer term, and gives cost estimates per site. Once the site focal points have given their
final approval to the technical aspects, it will go to Rick and his management team for consideration and cost/benefit
considerations. Managers within IT will also need to sign off on the commitments being made. On the implementation
side, the proposal is flexible enough to move sites within Analytical in an independent manner, so priority can shift to
those with more immediate needs.
I will continue to move this process along as quickly as practical. However, most of the work is in the small details, not
the high-level plans. Just today I learned we are running some processes on an EZServer for a required application I
knew nothing about (I found out because this process got 'stuck' on Friday and EZChrom was unusable in the workgroup
due to network traffic.) This is also an example where we will not know ifthis application works on the developer
machines until after we make the change. It also shows the danger of moving forward quickly with a "hope for the best"
mentality. I hope we have struck the right balance of detail vs. speed in this case.
Thanks.
Ron Skelton
Team Lead
Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry - Analytical Chemistry
Projects & Technology, Global Solutions Downstream
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.
Westhollow Technology Center N 2030B
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