Operator Research · 2026
We asked the people responsible for 43 plants.
Midstream · Pulp & solid wood · Chemicals & petrochemicals · Integrated energy · Upstream oil & gas
This is what they said.
The full report
Nine people said what you've been saying.
01
“Take this work away.”
Asked for three tasks. One said “too many,” then listed four.
“Doesn't create value — whether it's the OS or the DCS software.”
Automation lead · on patching
“Pop-up daily whack-a-mole.”
Cyber architect · on vendor alerts
02
“Support me with this.”
Not the diagnosis. The hour it takes to prove it.
“Confidence is high in the solution. The issue is they are not aware of the issues.”
Automation specialist
“Beyond what a person can be an expert on.”
Principal engineer · networks, software, security
“Use account knowledge to help build the justification.”
Controls specialist
03
“Find a different way to deliver it.”
Every one of them has bought this work before.
“Come up with a long-term solution instead of nickel-and-diming me.”
Automation and controls specialist
“Stop putting senior engineers on junior work and charging accordingly.”
Corporate technical authority
04
“Don't give me another system to work on.”
Adoption failure here is silent and total.
“If it's 15 minutes, let's swing. If it's 3 months… maybe next year.”
Operations automation manager
“If it's yet another tool we have to log into, it won't get adopted.”
Operational excellence manager
05
“Build something that works for both of us.”
A relationship, not an engagement.
“Be the gatekeeper for licensing, lifecycle and version control — and hand the information back.”
Automation and controls specialist
“Without adding complexity, headcount, or vendor-driven upsell.”
Controls specialist · on what good looks like
AND ONE THING THEY WON'T
The risk is theirs to accept.
Proposals arrive binary — do the whole thing, or do nothing. So nothing wins.
“Make the decision about risk appetite, not just cost.”
Automation team leader
“Give me a few options based on budget. Help me understand the risks and benefits of doing it — but also of not doing it.”
Automation and controls specialist
“Is it going to give you 100% certainty? No, nothing ever will — but I'm 100% confident. This is my recommendation.”
Cyber and automation lead
The full report
Nine people said what you've been saying.
Seven findings. Four places they disagreed with each other. And what an hour of downtime costs — from nothing to millions, at plants in the same country.
Anonymised · verbatim · free