Thoughts on Non-Productive Time

Non-productive time (NPT) is defined as time not directly associated with drilling operations or the performance of a related job.  Needless to say, it fills drilling contractors with all kinds of negative connotations and dread.

Perhaps, the negativity is well deserved.   NPT brings to mind wasted resources, budget overruns, unreliability, breakdowns, inefficiency, and missed deadlines.   The funny thing is that more often than not, NPT is preventable.

One of the surest ways to reduce NPT is to learn from past mistakes.  To achieve this we must understand the factors that created the NPT in the first place.  One of the most effective ways to classify the culprit(s) is to conduct a root cause analysis.

And this is where the problem arises.  Root cause analysis is not something the industry does diligently. Often we band-aid the first discovered problem and then shift our focus back to operations.  Even when root cause analysis is performed, the approach may be haphazard and not isolate the real problem.

Accupoint‘s SAM solution provides tools to help conduct comprehensive root cause analysis and communicate findings to all relevant parties.  For more information on minimizing NPT, contact us at 800.563.6250 or visit our website to arrange a demonstration of our flexible, cloud based Spec -Q2 management solution.