Smarter industrial operations with IoT

IoT helps SARA make its operations smarter, safer, and more economical

Committed to a digital transformation, SARA has installed sensors at four sites in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana
SARA opted for the solution smart operations from Orange Business, which allows it to obtain new data to improve its industrial management and the safety of its facilities, all at controlled costs
The SARA teams appreciated how easy the sensors were to install and use, especially in challenging environments, as their sites are classified as high industrial risk. IoT now makes operations smarter

Collect more data to improve the safety and control of industrial facilities

Founded in 1969, SARA - Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles (Antilles Refinery Corporation) - was already collecting data to improve its operations. But the company, which has four sites (an oil refinery in Martinique and three depots in Guadeloupe and French Guiana), wanted to take a major step forward in terms of digital transformation.

Managers were aware that with the right digital tools, they could improve efficiency and safety and move further into the era of smart industry. This was particularly important because SARA's facilities are classified as high industrial risk sites.

"Due to the nature of our business, a significant amount of important information is collected across all units and depots. To improve our process, it was important for us to collect more," says Jean-Luc Nestoret, Head of the Information Systems Department at SARA.

IoT, therefore, appears to be a practical and straightforward way to capture new data essential to strengthening the security of the Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles' sites.

Ojectives

Collect new data valuable for industrial management

Enhancing the safety of high-industrial-risk classified facilities

Have a simple and cost-effective solution to implement

      Thanks to IoT, SARA has fully entered the era of smart operations and smart industry.
    

With smart operations, sensors can be easily installed, even in challenging environments

By choosing Orange Business's IoT solution, smart operations, SARA's managers sought to transform their business methodically. In three key stages: experiment, validate, and implement.

Our digital transition process consists of two phases,” explains Michel Yp-Tcha, Director of Strategy and Transitions at SARA. “The first phase involved ‘test and learn’ by installing various IoT sensors on our facilities. For the coming years, we are looking to link the implementation of IoT sensors with the management of SARA.”

With smart operations, companies across sectors can remotely monitor buildings, equipment, and infrastructure in real time by installing sensors. IoT sensors installed in strategic locations collect data on a secure, dedicated SaaS portal. Supervision, threshold management, alerts, energy consumption... management becomes more efficient and secure.

This valuable control tool, particularly for manufacturers operating in sensitive environments such as SARA, is completely turnkey. It is as easy to deploy as it is to use. smart operations sensors are powered by long-life batteries and benefit from LoRaWAN connectivity, enabling them to send data to Orange servers securely.

“The use of an IoT sensor, which has no wired connection, allows us to add more sensors more easily. They are completely autonomous, with no need for electricity,” notes the Head of the Information Systems Department at SARA. “All you need is the sensor, install it in the right place, and retrieve the measured data.”

New data collected for smart and secure operations, thanks to the IoT

“The installation of these monitored sensors on our facilities allows us to accurately measure both our electricity consumption in buildings and our industrial water consumption,” explains Michel Yp-Tcha, Director of Strategy and Transitions at SARA. The deployment of IoT also enhances security monitoring, which is highly strategic for high-risk industrial sites. All this while keeping installation and operating costs under control.

This experience has convinced the managers of Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles to increase the number of sensors to go even further in smart industry.

“The implementation of this architecture with the help of Orange Business has enabled us to confirm that we have the capacity to integrate these sensors into a constrained environment,” says the Head of SARA’s Information Systems Department. “Being able to process more information will enable us to improve our operations, better predict breakdowns, and also create digital twins.” New opportunities are made possible by the smart operations solution and its IoT sensors.

What customers say about us

Jean-Luc Nestoret – Head of the Information Systems Department – SARA

“The two people from Orange Business who carried out this project were very efficient. They were always attentive and knew how to bring in the right people at the right time to meet our needs. We are very satisfied with what has been achieved.”

Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles (SARA)

The Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles (SARA, Antilles Refinery Corporation) is an oil refinery located in Martinique. It produces and distributes fuels and petroleum derivatives for Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.

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