What is your employer doing for a holiday party?

vedderfan10

PJPixie wrote:

That NIN concert sounds like a way better deal to me

I think it stands a better chance of being less lame...(but what a great excuse to not go to the staff party, huh?!)...

EvilMerlin

Songburst wrote:

That's huge. I hope that there is a good commissioning checklist to work off of. I'm a controls/automation guy myself (although I do dabble in power a little). What kind of DCS are you using to accomodate 16000 instruments? Is this a greenfield nuclear power plant or something? I'm not sure that there are 16000 instruments at all the kraft/paper mills that I do most of my work at around here.

It's a higher grade polysilicon plant. After the expansion we put in next summer to double the gas intake we'll hit over 20,000 instruments.

As far as the DCS, it's an effing mess. I've been doing loop check the last few months, and well...they have all the loop folders broken down by J-Box, and then by Segment, and many of the instruments have their own loop diagram and we have one instrument to shoot for just one folder. Plus the client wanted it broken down by system, so we'll go to a junction box and then out to the instruments and only shoot maybe 3 loops out of that box rather than just the whole box because they want the plant turned over to them by the system breakdown and don't want us wasting time on other instruments....even though we're there.

So we have more than half with Yokogawa and their DCS interface. Then we have some on Foundation Fieldbus, and then the rest are just local points to a PLC or MCC, or whatever local panel is there. It's been a fun time, and oh boy, commissioning will be dessert! I'm outta here though after loop check, I don't have much part in commissioning, the client wants their own operators and techs to take over and we'll move on to finishing the gas close. I feel bad for those sticking around for commissioning, however, they're going to make a killing on overtime. I already am on Loop Check. I haven't had less than 70 hours in a week in over two months. Isn't this business great?

Oh, and all this doesn't even include the mechanical packages we have that were as-built packages brought into the plant!

Songburst

EvilMerlin wrote:

It's a higher grade polysilicon plant. After the expansion we put in next summer to double the gas intake we'll hit over 20,000 instruments.

As far as the DCS, it's an effing mess. I've been doing loop check the last few months, and well...they have all the loop folders broken down by J-Box, and then by Segment, and many of the instruments have their own loop diagram and we have one instrument to shoot for just one folder. Plus the client wanted it broken down by system, so we'll go to a junction box and then out to the instruments and only shoot maybe 3 loops out of that box rather than just the whole box because they want the plant turned over to them by the system breakdown and don't want us wasting time on other instruments....even though we're there.

So we have more than half with Yokogawa and their DCS interface. Then we have some on Foundation Fieldbus, and then the rest are just local points to a PLC or MCC, or whatever local panel is there. It's been a fun time, and oh boy, commissioning will be dessert! I'm outta here though after loop check, I don't have much part in commissioning, the client wants their own operators and techs to take over and we'll move on to finishing the gas close. I feel bad for those sticking around for commissioning, however, they're going to make a killing on overtime. I already am on Loop Check. I haven't had less than 70 hours in a week in over two months. Isn't this business great?

Oh, and all this doesn't even include the mechanical packages we have that were as-built packages brought into the plant!

You don't get to tune any of those loops? Kind of a let down to just check the wiring and leave it at that (although 2 months of 70 hour weeks will wear you out). Is the Yokogawa any good? I've only used Foxboro and Bailey (ABB) DCS since I'm more of a PLC guy.

EvilMerlin

Songburst wrote:

You don't get to tune any of those loops? Kind of a let down to just check the wiring and leave it at that (although 2 months of 70 hour weeks will wear you out). Is the Yokogawa any good? I've only used Foxboro and Bailey (ABB) DCS since I'm more of a PLC guy.

This is my first DCS job, but it actually hasn't been that bad at all. I've always been in smaller scale stuff using mostly Allen Bradley PLC's, and dabbled with Festo a little bit. But now it's all big scale for me.

Well we're shooting the loops back to the house, and stroking all the valves making sure they're fail safe/close, and that the operators are reading it correctly on their board. Most of them have been calibrated as well.

It's basically been like a second spec check, except with power this time. As far as tuning and final calibration, a lot of it needs full system power which we don't have right now as Process is just now finishing up as well, and will be commissioned in the process order and since so much is new technology, it's all just saved for commissioning/startup anyway that way we can just get the loops out of the way right now, and fix any item that has electrical/mechanical/dcs/whatever issue and then just spend all that time focusing during commissioning. It's definitely been quite the experience.

Not to mention, many of the instruments can't be fully calibrated until there's some kind of commissioning going on, such as the moisture elements. We can install those until that system is powered up and ready for product.

Songburst

EvilMerlin wrote:

This is my first DCS job, but it actually hasn't been that bad at all. I've always been in smaller scale stuff using mostly Allen Bradley PLC's, and dabbled with Festo a little bit. But now it's all big scale for me.

Well we're shooting the loops back to the house, and stroking all the valves making sure they're fail safe/close, and that the operators are reading it correctly on their board. Most of them have been calibrated as well.

It's basically been like a second spec check, except with power this time. As far as tuning and final calibration, a lot of it needs full system power which we don't have right now as Process is just now finishing up as well, and will be commissioned in the process order and since so much is new technology, it's all just saved for commissioning/startup anyway that way we can just get the loops out of the way right now, and fix any item that has electrical/mechanical/dcs/whatever issue and then just spend all that time focusing during commissioning. It's definitely been quite the experience.

Not to mention, many of the instruments can't be fully calibrated until there's some kind of commissioning going on, such as the moisture elements. We can install those until that system is powered up and ready for product.

Sounds like a really cool job. I've designed/commissioned a couple of pretty big systems but I haven't been involved in anything on that scale yet. I'm supporting the commissioning of a steam turbine generator right now, but I'm not really a major player (I didn't do any of the design -- I'm just doing the PLC programming).

Black Diamond

Canceled it so we could get people employed. Not complaining one bit

PJPixie

Black Diamond wrote:

Canceled it so we could get people employed. Not complaining one bit

That is awesome!

illegal pants

lawn bowls

it's on like donkey kong

know1

Our corporate Christmas (I refuse to call it Holiday)party was canceled this year to save money. I'm fine with it.

rockpants

Despite the fact that we're tied to the housing market, our Holiday Luncheon will happen again this year at the local community hall near my employer. It's free to attend, too; paid for by the monthly stipend given to the employee rep council. The awesome thing is that we work 4 hours but get paid for the full 8, though this year they added the condition that, in order to be paid the full 8 hours, one must attend the luncheon. This has rankled a few long-time employees, but the thing is, they're not obligated in the slightest to pay us the extra 4 hours. They could easily say that we're not able to get that this year, considering our company is in forbearance talks with its creditors to avoid bankruptcy - the deadline was the 14th, but was just extended to December 31st.

decides2dream

usually our firm does unbelievable parties in general, but most especially for the holidays. the NY metro area firm is so huge that each 'group' has it's own party. our group alone is just under 100 people. last year's holiday party was at a spectacular place! this year we were supposed to have our holiday party at tavern on the green, very swank. however, the partners have decided that given the current economic climate and it's effects on all, but especially on many of our clients.....i think in 'good taste'...decided to forego our usual festivities and donate an additional 1.5 million to local charities helping those in need thru this economic crisis. i thought it a good idea.

cat72

My company does nothing for the holidays for us. Oh wait they let us work on Christmas.

blackredyellow

Ours is stupid. They have a good dinner at a nice place, but employees have to pay. Two years ago, the employee was free and a spouse/guest was like $10... not terrible, but kinda lame.

Last year it was $10 for the employee and $15 for the guest. Screw that... I like some people here, but I see them enough, I wasn't going to pay to see them more. Hardly anyone went, so we have yet to see what the deal is this time. I'm not holding my breath.

The joke around here last year was instead of receiving a christmas bonus, we were getting an invoice.

My wife works for a smaller company (about 12-15 people), and there is low key and nice (and free). I don't mind going to that one at all.

TransplantedNewf

There's only 6 of us here plus the boss. The boys are all out back and i'm here in the office. The boss plans on taking everyone out for a nice dinner downtown.

mammasan

the agency I work for rents some fancy lounge and we have it there. I really don't care where it is as long as there is good food and top shelf liquor.

Thecure

i work for a non-profit place and this year we are having a small get togther at a local bar. the bar renst out teh place for us for free which is great. we have small finger foods and 2 free drinks. everyone at my work likes each other so i don't mind going.

violetpsyche

decides2dream wrote:

usually our firm does unbelievable parties in general, but most especially for the holidays. the NY metro area firm is so huge that each 'group' has it's own party. our group alone is just under 100 people. last year's holiday party was at a spectacular place! this year we were supposed to have our holiday party at tavern on the green, very swank. however, the partners have decided that given the current economic climate and it's effects on all, but especially on many of our clients.....i think in 'good taste'...decided to forego our usual festivities and donate an additional 1.5 million to local charities helping those in need thru this economic crisis. i thought it a good idea.

Wow, that's really cool! I'm an unemployed layabout but my husband's company are having a big party and this year it has a 70s theme. This has not gone down very well with the female employees, who were looking forward to an excuse to wear a glam frock. I've cheated and bought a beautiful 1970s vintage evening dress, which still fits in with the theme, adds a bit more sophistication than a sequined jumpsuit and multi-coloured afro AND is damned cheaper than a modern evening dress. Win!

My husband, however, is going as Noddy Holder from Slade:

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/617/02mu8.jpg

This should be interesting...

small town beck

decides2dream wrote:

usually our firm does unbelievable parties in general, but most especially for the holidays. the NY metro area firm is so huge that each 'group' has it's own party. our group alone is just under 100 people. last year's holiday party was at a spectacular place! this year we were supposed to have our holiday party at tavern on the green, very swank. however, the partners have decided that given the current economic climate and it's effects on all, but especially on many of our clients.....i think in 'good taste'...decided to forego our usual festivities and donate an additional 1.5 million to local charities helping those in need thru this economic crisis. i thought it a good idea.

That is awesome


Our company had dinner at a golf and country club, dinner and open bar... don't need to say how out of control that was

Our company does HUGE charity work this time of year(well all year) and *knock wood* we are lucky and seem to be avoiding the downfalls of the economy right now.


My group is doing a luncheon next week

wolfbear

cutback wrote:

what's my employer doing? let me ask...

cutback, what are we doing for a holiday party?

nothing you tool. you're self employed.

oh yeah.


:D

Same here, but I'll still have fun!