Statistical cluster analysis and visualisation for alarm management configuration

The effective performance of an alarm system is a key aspect of asset management for any industrial installation. However, it is not uncommon for alarm systems to be poorly configured, leading to large amounts of alarm noise and a potentially dangerous load on the operators. Here we present a novel method for the identification of redundant or bad actors in alarm systems through the application of statistical cluster analysis. This allows the system to be optimised to reduce the load on the operators through existing systems change management processes.