An OT Manager is responsible for the activities of their team to ensure operational support, development, security and compliance for all Operational Technology (OT) systems, software, project management and delivery.
OT Manager Challenges
Managing the available resources effectively is a typical challenge for every OT Manager and one that Simon Harrison, Head of OT Services at Anglian Water Services, is all too familiar with.
Anglian Water Services (AWS) supplies over 6 million customers and maintains 38,000km of water pipes. They are investing in plans stretching over the next 25 years and beyond to secure future water supplies in one of the driest regions in the country.
Simon says, “The OT Team is fully deployed carrying out day-to-day maintenance and deliverability activities. There isn’t the capacity to switch resources to work full time on special projects.”
Terzo working with OT Managers
Neil Tubman and Mark Davison, founders of Terzo Digital, both have extensive experience of the water industry and specifically “telemetry”; the measurement of data at remote sources and transmission of the data to a centralised monitoring station.
In 2014 AWS agreed a framework with Terzo Digital to provide Internet of Things (IoT) / Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) specialists skills to support their projects.
Having worked with several departments across AWS, Terzo is able to bring a detailed understanding of the client’s organisation to specific OT projects. Terzo’s broad skillset allows them to be involved at the early ‘discovery’ phases of projects, to perform complex investigations, to present reports and proposals and to assist with implementation.
Simon says, “we are extremely lucky to have access to the niche expertise of Neil and Mark. We can rely on them to quickly test upgrades, write code to system interfaces or to develop new products.”
Without access to this cost effective and key resource, projects would be delayed or drawn out whilst AWS OT team members learnt new skills on the job.
Simon says, “the relationship with Neil and Mark is open and honest. They are only interested in helping us. They are straightforward and easy to work with. We benefit from their independence and their up-to-date industry and technical knowledge, especially when we want to do something completely new, such as with digital twins.
They are an excellent sounding board, and we gain a lot from our informal fortnightly meetings.”
Of Mark and Neil, Simon says, “They are like gold dust!”
Find out how Terzo can bring structure and success to your projects
Simon Harrison has since moved from AWS to start his own consultancy. The consultancy framework remains in place and Terzo continue to support the OT team at AWS.