JAMCEM Consulting has launched its latest product – the Virtual Technical Centre (VTC) to provide small and medium sized independent cement producers, who do not have a Technical Centre, access to some of the most experienced cement industry experts. The aim of the VTC is to provide unbiased, expert advice on technical and operational queries that arise on the plant. Often these queries are the source of improvement ideas for the plant which can greatly improve operations, but as the plant personnel do not have access to expert opinion, these ideas are often lost and never developed. The VTC is not designed to replace the technical function at the plant, but to supplement the existing resources in a cost effective manner.
How does it work?
Users of the system purchase a number of man hours, which they use through their annual subscription period. Each company has a main user - the VTC Champion - who will have access to the VTC ticketing system, where all enquiries are logged and replies provided by the JAMCEM experts. All answered queries are stored within the ticketing system, along with the subscription hours used and available being tracked in the system. Whilst most enquiries will be dealt through the ticketing system, the user can also discuss the issues directly with the JAMCEM expert when required. JAMCEM has resources to cover all of the disciplines within the cement manufacturing process and some of the key areas that are used are pyro-processing and mill optimisation, conventional and alternative fuels, chemistry and physical variability reduction, environmental improvement, quality and product development, reliability strategy and refractory design.
Who answers the enquiries?
JAMCEM, unlike many cement industry consultants, does not believe that you can be an expert in every aspect of cement manufacture. When an enquiry is sent to the VTC, the most appropriate and experienced resource relating to that enquiry will be selected from the team and will be appointed to answer the enquiry from start to finish. An example of some of the JAMCEM resources and their areas of specialisation are shown below: