Process plants and pipelines rely on numerous automation systems to run their operations but those systems can also generate thousands of alarms each day - many of which are not serious.

This means control room operators to quickly distinguish between routine process alarms and critical alarms that warn of operating problems or safety issues.

According to the Abnormal Situation Management Consortium, ineffective management on nuisance alarms can lead to incidents that cost the process industry billions of dollars.

They also pose an increased risk of fatigue and stress for operators who have to constantly make decisions on how to respond when an alarm sounds, ASM says.

Honeywell's Dynamo alarm suite can help users reduce the overall alarm count by as much as 80%, identify maintenance issues and increase visibility of critical alarms that require urgent attention.

Its customisable, role-based dashboard lets operators, engineers and managers view the health of their alarm system at a glance.

The software is also compatible with many mobile devices, so alarm information can be viewed from almost any location.

It allows for more frequent monitoring and faster corrective action.

"When operators are forced to deal with hundreds of alarms at any given point in time, there is increased risk to safety, not to mention efficiency," Honeywell Process Solutions advanced solutions business vice-president and general manager Vimal Kapur said.

He said it optimised alarm management programs to "prevent alarm floods and ‘chatter'" and reduce operator stress.

"The software offers a layer of protection to minimise unplanned outages, safety incidents and environmental releases."

The Dynamo alarm suite can be integrated with Honeywell's Experion process knowledge system as well as any other control system.