Optimising Efficiency: Leveraging Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Field Instrument Selection in Process Plants

Selecting field instruments and sensors within a process plant presents considerable challenges in ensuring adherence to specified conditions and maximising operational efficiency. The accuracy of instrument selection hinges upon adopting a systematic approach and incorporating pertinent inputs into the selection process. To address this need, a comprehensive Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method tailored for instrument selection within process plants has been developed. This method is anticipated to serve as a valuable resource for guiding instrument selection endeavours within process plants. Moreover, an automated tool leveraging Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and built-in Excel formulas has been devised to facilitate the implementation of various MCDM techniques. Furthermore, alternative methodologies such as Decision Trees and Machine Learning have been scrutinised for their efficacy in the selection of field instruments, offering avenues for comparison and optimisation within this domain.