What VR/AR projects is Sibur conducting? Which is the most significant in terms of business customers, resources invested, and expected results?

We work in both of those fields. As for AR, we began to use it to improve the quality of plant maintenance and repair. We are adopting tools for remote consulting of field specialists — fitters and mechanics, who perform work with the support of external experts (equipment suppliers or our internal experts from other plants).

Plant employees use AR-glasses with a built-in video camera and a display to show different information, including tips from remote experts, which they transmit from their computers through a unified communications platform.

These technologies are being actively developed in our company, and in the future we are considering the possibility of using AR equipment as an interface for "tips" with reference to specific equipment using various tags, as well as the introduction of functionality supporting scripts, including for remote training of employees when conducting repairs.

We use VR in interactive learning materials. For example, a simulator for servicing compressors is already being implemented as a pilot project in Tomsk. In 2019, we will analyze its impact on the quality of staff training. Practicing the necessary actions via a virtual simulator allows an employee to reduce the decision-making time when working at the facility itself.

The second scenario of using VR is associated with practicing actions when handling hazardous reagents as well as when studying the fundamentals of industrial safety and working under dangerous conditions — e.g. in industries with gas hazards, at heights, etc. We have identified a set of the most appropriate scenarios for the use of VR, and in 2019 we plan to begin developing a simulator for handling hazardous reagents.

In 2019, we will also assess the economic feasibility of VR technologies in more detail and select scenarios that should be implemented in an interactive format.

Are you seeking to increase the Company's own VR/AR expertise or more often involve third-party developers?

We are committed to the implementation of a combined model. We need internal experts: for example, to "translate" from the language of developers into the language of business and the language of petrochemistry. Therefore, we are creating a division of technical specialists. That said, we will not create a fully functional computer graphics development studio, since this is not our core business.

How does Sibur make decisions about the implementation of VR projects? Who is working on the concept? Who is the stakeholder / actual customer? How are decisions made about the scope of funding (pilots / full-scale implementation)?

The initiative comes from both the process divisions and from the functional customers (plants). Plants often pose tasks that need to be solved, and the technical divisions propose ways of achieving them. If the solution overlaps with VR technologies, we begin to analyze the technical and economic aspects, including an assessment of the economic effect of the implementation. This calculation allows us to decide on the appropriateness of investment in the development and implementation. All digital tools at Sibur pass through such a filter. All effects must be quantified.

How are efficiency and the return on investment period evaluated? Do you use any internal methods or do you rely on the methods and calculations of those involved in implementation? Are there any results or return on investment estimates that you could make public?

I have not yet seen any methods for evaluating the effectiveness and return on investment period of solutions based on AR/VR technologies proposed by the implementing companies. Everything is based on the analysis of our company's main business indicators. For everything that Sibur produces, there is a certain cost for a given volume. We have entirely transparent indicators for the calculation taking into account the useful life of the equipment at our plants and, for example, downtime during their maintenance. These and other indicators make it possible to evaluate the efficiency of individual sections and plants of the holding. And if we can estimate the time saved in carrying out maintenance or changes in the productive time of a particular unit, then we can easily estimate the profit in monetary terms.

In the case of hazardous production facilities, we must also monitor the risks. These risks are reduced through staff training. The possibility of monitoring risks can also be the basis for making decisions about the implementation of certain technologies.

Decision making is collegial as is the case with other investment projects, and representatives of functional customers and internal responsible parties participate in it.

I can't provide estimates on the return on investment period yet. We should first accumulate experience and statistics regarding staff training in such projects in our industry. As for AR projects, one of the most obvious benefits is the savings on business trips.