Alarm management is a structured set of processes for designing, operating and maintaining alarm systems so operators can respond effectively to abnormal situations.
Poorly performing alarm systems can overwhelm operators, reduce situational awareness and increase the risk of incidents and unplanned shutdowns. Alarm floods, nuisance alarms and poor prioritization remain common challenges across industrial environments.
We deliver lifecycle-based alarm management solutions that help you design, rationalize and maintain alarm systems aligned with international best practice. By integrating alarm management with High-Performance Human Machine Interface (HPHMI) design, we help ensure operators receive the right information, at the right time, in the right format.
Discover the benefits of our alarm management and optimization services
- Reduce safety and operational riskWe help prevent alarm floods and missed critical alarms, protecting people, assets and the environment.
- Improve operator situational awarenessWell-designed alarms and HPHMI integration ensure operators can clearly understand and respond to abnormal situations.
- Increase operational efficiency and uptimeOptimized alarm systems reduce unnecessary interventions and help prevent process upsets and unplanned shutdowns.
- Maintain compliance with confidenceOur services align with ISA 18.2 and IEC 62682, supporting regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
- Enable continuous performance improvementOngoing KPI monitoring and benchmarking provide clear insight into alarm system health and improvement opportunities.
Our alarm management and optimization capabilities
- Alarm management consultingEnd-to-end support across the alarm management lifecycle, from assessment and design to implementation and continuous improvement.
- Alarm philosophy developmentCreation of robust alarm philosophy documents aligned with international standards, regulatory expectations and your operational context.
- Alarm rationalization workshopsFacilitated, expert-led sessions that eliminate nuisance alarms, reduce operator fatigue and prioritize alarms that truly matter.
- Alarm system audits and benchmarkingIndependent assessments against ISA 18.2 and industry best practices, with clear roadmaps to world-class performance.
- Alarm KPI reporting and monitoringDefinition and tracking of key performance indicators to provide measurable proof of system performance and ongoing value.
- HPHMI consultingStandards-based HMI design aligned with ISA-101 to complement alarm systems and enhance operator effectiveness.
Why SGS?
With over 25 years of experience supporting industrial alarm systems across Australia and New Zealand, we bring in-depth practical expertise and a strong understanding of operational realities.
Our independent, standards-based approach ensures alarm systems are not only compliant, but usable, sustainable and aligned with real-world operations. By combining alarm management, HMI design and lifecycle support, we help you achieve lasting improvements in safety and performance.
FAQ
It improves safety, enhances situational awareness, reduces alarm fatigue and helps prevent incidents and unplanned shutdowns.
Alarm floods, nuisance alarms, poor prioritization, stale alarms and lack of clear operator guidance.
Situational awareness is the alignment between an operator’s understanding of plant conditions and the actual state of the process, supported by effective alarms and HMI design.
We recommend an initial assessment of alarm philosophy and system performance data, followed by a structured improvement roadmap.
Business Assurance
Tenancy A, Level 5, Building 3, Central Park,
660 Great South Road, Ellerslie,
Auckland, New Zealand