What is the Upstream-Network.com?

Upstream-Network.com is an interactive, web-based community of turnaround professionals sharing knowledge and having access to proprietary world-class processes and decision tools. Your manufacturing facility or company should be a subscriber for you to gain access to the Upstream-Network.com portal.

How does my company subscribe to the Upstream Network?

Contact AP-Networks at 1-240-683-1001 or info@ap-networks.com and ask for a Upstream-Network.com license package. A package containing a license and pricing options will be sent to you.

What is the relationship between Upstream-Network.com and NPRA?

The organizations reached a collaborative arrangement where NPRA would allow AP-Networks to post in the Reference Section of Upstream-Network.com recent publications offered to members of NPRA. In return, NPRA could promote upcoming events. This is a mutually benefiting relationship and consistent with the missions of both organizations.

Where does the information contained in the Upstream-Network.com come from?

The work processes, tools, job-aids, and other materials contained in the Upstream-Network.com have been developed by the professionals at AP-Networks. This material has been developed by our staff based on real-world experience in managing turnarounds and through the systematic research of the causes of success and failure in turnaround management. This hands-on experience, plus the research results, showed that most turnarounds were failing to meet their objectives and that most of the problems were due to poor planning and preparation and could have been prevented. The network has been especially designed to help turnaround teams learn from past experience and avoid common pitfalls.

I have an upcoming turnaround, how can the Upstream-Network.com help me in the planning and preparation process?

The Upstream-Network.com has our proprietary world-class turnaround process and a suite of tools and job-aids specifically geared to help you and your team prepare for an upcoming turnaround. The material is user friendly, easy to use, printable, and downloadable. Some key characteristics about the process are:

• A number of planning and execution stages, starting with Long Range Planning, and ending with the Post-Turnaround Phase.
• Decision gates at the end of each phase.
• Key deliverables for each decision gate.
• Examples, job aids, and tools.
• Job-aids and tools are scaleable to turnaround size and complexity
• Checklists.
• Turnaround team roles and responsibilities.
• Cross check with readiness tool

I have an upcoming turnaround, how can the Upstream-Network.com help me assess how prepared we are at this point in time?

The Turnaround Readiness Pyramid is the only industry tool specifically tailored to measure turnaround readiness at any point in the definition process. Furthermore, the Turnaround Readiness Pyramid measures team alignment around the status of the 21 major planning components that are covered in detail.

The Turnaround Pyramid is interactive, and takes less than one hour to complete and view readiness results. It is also automatically scaleable to turnaround size, complexity, and the timing of the evaluation (days prior to the start of the turnaround). The information on your turnaround is protected by a password that you choose making it impossible for others within your company to view the status of your turnaround without your permission (passing on the password).

The readiness information from the pyramid could be used to become valuable corporate knowledge and memory. For example:

• Team can use it to track progress and alignment over time.
• Company can use it to pinpoint systemic strengths and weaknesses to better target and leverage resources.

I need help in either using the decision tools or in interpreting the results. Who can I contact?

AP-Networks provides support ten hours a day, Monday through Friday and within 24 hours of any request. Simply call 1-240-683-1001 to reach one of our experts.

How do I know that my data are secure?

The Upstream-Network.com server uses a variety of security mechanisms to ensure that only licensed subscribers are given access to the network servers. There is a firewall that protects the servers from outside access. Each connection you make to the network is encrypted so that outside users cannot view your information as it crosses the Internet. Data provided on individual turnarounds for readiness checks are only accessible by the specific users or turnaround team providing the data.

How do I report an error or problem?

First consult the online help and frequently asked questions. If this does not help then you can click the technical support button and report the fault. You will receive an email response with a trouble tracking number. Our support staff will resolve your problem and inform you by email or call you within 24 hours.

Can anyone post messages on the Upstream-Network.com bulletin board?

No. The Upstream-Network.com is an exclusive community of turnaround professionals whose companies or plant sites are subscribers. They are the only ones with access. This minimizes messages that are not solicited or needed (e.g. marketing messages from various vendors, etc.)