POM - Plant Operating Manual

TRACEZ Training Services has extensive experience in developing customised and organisation-specific manual for various types of operational requirements

POMS – Plant Operating Manuals
Plant Commissioning & Start up Manuals
Equipment/Unit Specific start up manuals
SOPs- Standard Operating Procedures

POM - Plant Operating Manuals (SMART, Digital & Interactive)

TRACEZ team has many years of experience in developing smart, digital, and interactive Plant Operating Manuals (POMs) designed to support safe, efficient, and standardised plant operations. A Plant Operating Manual (POM) is a reference and guidance document intended for use by operations personnel during the normal running phase of a plant or project. It is not a training manual, nor a pre-commissioning or commissioning manual. POMs are carefully structured to avoid unnecessary detail. They should not be overloaded with “nice-to-know” information; instead, they focus on delivering all essential “must-know” information required for safe, reliable, and effective plant operation

Standard features of a POM

Following are the main features that required for a POM.

The Plant Operating Manual (POM) shall contain all technical information required to support operations personnel in safely and efficiently starting up, operating, controlling, and managing normal and abnormal process conditions, including shutdown, depressurisation, and plant restart.
The POM shall not duplicate information that is already available in other documents such as commissioning manuals, training manuals, or vendor documentation.
The manual must be well structured, with information presented in a logical and sequential order that reflects actual plant operations.
Content shall be easy to navigate, enabling users to quickly search for and locate required information, particularly during abnormal or emergency situations.

The POM shall include adequate graphics, such as process flow diagrams, control logic illustrations, and system schematics, to support clear understanding of the process and control systems.
All information and instructions shall be clear, precise, and unambiguous, avoiding vague or interpretative statements.
Language shall be simple and concise, using short sentences and standard technical English to ensure clarity and consistency across all sections.
A uniform standard shall be applied throughout the Plant Operating Manual for colours, font types and sizes, capitalisation, symbols, and hazard highlighting, ensuring consistency, readability, and clear visual identification of all hazards.

SOPs- Standard Operating Procedures

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a documented set of step-by-step instructions developed to guide personnel in performing specific tasks or activities safely, consistently, and efficiently. SOPS will be developed for overall plants or the individual equipments start ups, shutdowns, Isolation, deisolation and decommissioning activities.

Ensure standardisation of operations
Maintain safety, quality, and regulatory compliance
Reduce operational risks and human error

Support training, assessment, and competency development
Each SOP clearly defines the scope, responsibilities, prerequisites, tools and equipment, safety precautions, and sequential task steps, including actions to be taken during normal, abnormal, and emergency conditions, where applicable.
SOPs developed by TRACEZ are aligned with OEM/vendor manuals, organisational procedures, and applicable industry standards & statutory requirements.

Commissioning & Startup Manuals

A Commissioning Manual is a technical document that guides the systematic testing, verification, and handover of systems and equipment from construction to operations. Commissioning & startup manuals are used for the pre commissioning and commissioning activities of the new projects. A Start-up Manual provides step-by-step instructions for bringing the plant from a safe, idle state to normal operating conditions. Start up Manual helps the operations team to start the plant safely, avoid trips, incidents, or equipment damage, and handle abnormal situations during start-up.

Start-up Philosophy
Pre-start Checks : Utilities available?, Instruments calibrated?, Safety systems active?
System Start-up Sequence: Step-by-step procedures for each system/unit
Normal Start-up Procedures
Cold Start vs Hot Start

Emergency Shutdown Interface
Interlocks & Alarms
Common Start-up Problems & Troubleshooting
Key Operating Parameters: Temperature, pressure, flow, level limits
Isolation and Reinstatement Procedure