Improving operator screens

Start with the operator’s task

A useful screen answers a specific question: what is running, what has stopped or which process value needs attention? List the most common operator tasks before deciding how the screen should look.

Make equipment state clear

Separate equipment status from controls. Use consistent names and navigation so a person can move from the plant overview to the relevant machine without hunting for the right display.

• Equipment and process overview
• Operating mode and machine state
• Key process values with clear units
• Alarm information and relevant context
• A consistent route to equipment details
• Trends for variables that explain process behaviour

Give historical information a purpose

Choose trends and reports based on questions the team actually asks. For example, which values changed before a stoppage, or how a process behaved during a shift. Decide which values, time periods and data sources are required.

Bring examples to the review

Screenshots of the current application, the most-used displays and examples of confusing alarms are useful. Tell us what operators need to see more clearly, and what they currently do outside the SCADA system to find that information.