Chip Thinking

What is Chip Thinking® ?

Chip Thinking® breaks the processes that make up your value chain into the smallest, meaningful “Chips” - sets of interacting or interdependent components.

When is it relevant?

We use Chip Thinking® in a number of ways to -

Provide a common data platform open to all stakeholders.

Assess data, activities or issues from the large to the small scale.

Make decisions for future operations based on real time results

Optimise a process, or an asset that houses a process.

Build new assets or process facilities that learn from all existing data.

Engage and empower stakeholders

Stakeholders will likely have different areas of expertise and involvement. Chips bring to life all data and stakeholder knowledge in one place, so that everyone can understand every aspect. With our digital simulation, stakeholders can take a virtual tour to aid their insight, feedback and input. For example a Cost Planner can “see” the operation of the production line; and a Facilities’ Manager can understand the impact of maintenance costs on the wider business.

More informed decision-making

Chips bring stakeholder knowledge together in a common language that everyone can understand and engage with - from client-specific, operational data to functions on complex projects. They can choose the scale that matters to them, from the global through countries and regions right down to a factory, production line or component. And because the Chip model considers all aspects equally, the answers are objective, transparent and holistic.

Optimisation through rapid scenario testing

By digitally modelling processes or assets as Chips, we can quickly see how well they are working at present, and what could change under a wide range of circumstances - something, which would be impossible at the level of single components. Chips make it easy to change values, and isolate or optimise elements of a process for seamless improvements in productivity. They also allow staff to rehearse operations in a virtual environment.

Mapping your paths to the future

By combining Chips of existing processes with “virtual Chips” that describe possible processes, you can quickly get to different views of what the future could be. It's then easy to plan for each “future” with different data variables (for market trends, let's say) and calculate how that changes the requirement for energy or space, for example. Testing multiple options will also reveal “sweet spots” – for example the optimum capital investment to maximise future flexibility across a number of markets.

Efficiency in procurement and performance analysis

Chips develop and use data from strategy right through to implementation and operation. That continuity between business information and outcomes allows every final component to be tracked back to a strategic business driver, with key benefits in -

Optimising the procurement strategy - every component can be tracked back to a strategic business driver.

Performance analysis by accurately attributing exact and detailed costs to Chips.

Efficiency in operations and future projects

The link back to business drivers, and the ability to test different options, improves usability and productivity. Resolved as Chips, the mass of data about the physical asset becomes far more usable, helping our clients learn from future possibility. With that understanding, they can optimize staff levels and improve asset performance through life-cycle planning and operational costing. Overall, organisational performance and productivity will benefit.