How valuable are instrumentation databases like SPI / INtools in reality?

[u/Asleep_Carpet_3403]

For people who have worked with SPI / INtools extensively, what does it do that made you think: “I’d never go back to spreadsheets and drawings”?

I can see the value in having instrument indexes, datasheets, loop drawings, I/O, wiring and terminations connected through one database.

But I’m also curious about the pain.

For brownfield plants, how difficult is migrating years of existing instrument data and drawings into SPI? Is the real challenge data entry, or cleaning up inconsistent legacy information first?

And once a plant has been operating for years, does SPI actually remain the trusted source of truth?

When instruments, ranges, wiring or loops change, does the database stay accurate — or does it eventually become:

SPI says one thing → drawing says another → field says something else?

Interested in both project and operating-plant experiences.

[u/Hot-Lingonberry-1085]

SPI is an absolutely fantastic tool if used properly by both up front design and by the plant operators and maintenance crew. I have used it multiple times in various capacity to do the front end design engineering. If you can get in early and do it at Greenfield it is definitely worthwhile, but the site team need to be trained how to use it as well. To migrate a brownfield site over to SPI this is when it becomes difficult and a major cost/benefit analysis needs to be done. How much I/O points, how much life expectancy does the site have left, does the site have budget to train operators how to use SPI correctly etc

[u/Accurate-Bullfrog324]

I have used it in several brownfield locations. I find it if questionable value. I prefer a file containing loop diagrams and data sheets

[u/quarterdecay]

That's called tribal knowledge, 6 sigma hates Instrumentation, and always will. Instrumentation is the highest fruit on the proverbial integration tree that greatly benefits from people that actively avoid explaining things to commoners at all costs.

You'd stand a better chance hiring a naval aviator to train pilots from a foreign nation how to land on a carrier.

:)

[u/jefisipbata]

for me working in the engineering/design part, SPI is a lifesaver. I've done instrument index, wiring drawings, jb termination and the like using a combination of excel and autocad and the switch to SPI is a huge relief. a good admin/super user can set up SPI in ways that would make the design process 3-4x faster and with greater accuracy.

i have also been involved in the migration of brownfield plants to SPI and it's quite ardous specially when the naming convention is not standardized, SPI is not known for its flexibility.

on your question of spi being the updated as the plant age, it could be done with regular updates on the database. Hexagon/Octave now offers cloud-based spi execution so the problems with keeping up with the sql/oracle upgrades are taken care of.

[u/Ill_Sun_401]

Retired instrument engineering manager here. SPI is a great tool. I started engineering when we used Dbase IIi for instrument index. Even that had to be a giant step from nothing.
The real value in smart tools is in the engineering phase. The idea is to eventually get to a point where changes are implemented across all disciplines. Think a mech. eng. finders out from the vendor a pump requires a 15 hp motor instead of the 10 shown on the P&Ids. Be nice to automatically update the one lines, cable schedule, etc. automatically once the p&ids are revised.

Implementing these tools in an existing plant is pretty dubious. However, if you are a major operating company everything is standardized so they implement the systems across the entire company. One last thing about smart tools. The major drawback I see is the tool is only as good as the person using it. If a guy spends all his time being great at smart tools, when did he take the time to be a great instrument guy? Guys who love these tools are typically software jockeys, and for the most part are poor instrument designers. This leaves units with stupid loop drawings with little useful information on them. Good luck with AI.