Prior to the Global ManuChem Strategies 2014, we spoke with Dr. Dieter Regnat, Head of Clariant Production at Clariant Service AG / Switzerland

1. Interview
Clariant Service AG
Dr. Dieter Regnat
Head of Clariant Production System YEE
Prior to the Global ManuChem Strategies 2014, we spoke with Dr. Dieter Regnat, Head of Clariant
Production at Clariant Service AG / Switzerland
we.CONECT:
In your opinion: What are the main
current
challenges
and
trends
regarding
management
and
optimization of chemical production
and what are the specific challenges
related to your company?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: The optimization of
the chemical production is an ongoing
challenge. Clariant has implemented a
continuous improvement process under
the umbrella of Clariant Excellence. The
initiative is now running several years.
The specific challenge in the current
phase is to drive it towards selfsustainability.
The increasing energy prices, particularly
in Europe, are becoming more and more
a burden for the chemical industry.
Accordingly, energy improvements are
carrying a great weight in our
optimization program.
we.CONECT:
Looking to volatility in commodity
markets, which role plays operations
management, specifically S&OP and
plant capacity management?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: The volatility in the
commodity market entrains the request
for high flexibility regarding the required
resources. This basically means to be
able to run the plant capacity on
significantly different levels. In order to
be able to shift personnel temporarily
from one plant to the other there is a
permanent training and a high quality of
the plant personnel required.
we.CONECT:
Do you use and / or plan to implement
new technologies like MES, Big Data
& Cloud Technologies?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: Clariant is using it
punctually and is going to roll MES out to
several sites in the course of this year.
we.CONECT:
Do you use mobile technologies to
optimize operator management and
operator mobility?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: We have started
using
mobile
technologies
in
warehouses.
we.CONECT:
According to your presentation “The
next step of excellence in production
– Integrated optimization of yield,
energy and environment”, could you
briefly introduce us to the project and
what is important about this topic?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: Costs related to yield
(raw materials), energy and environment
usually represent a major share of the
production costs. Increasing energy
costs emphasize the need to improve
energy efficiency. The complexity of
problems that can be tackled by a Lean
Sigma Project is limited. Quite often
optimizations are focusing on one cost
element
neglecting
another
one,
although they are interdependent. Our
Yield, Energy and Environment (YEE)
approach strives for the overall cost
optimum. Specific production process or
production units are diagnosed using
Lean Sigma method, deep dive analytical
methods and tools established by our
team. The team set-up is multi
interdisciplinary
to
leverage
best
available knowledge and tackle topics
from different perspectives. Project
selection is the key for a good costbenefit trade-off.
we.CONECT:
How different will the Chemical
Operations/Manufacturing of the year
2020 be from today’s ones?
Dr. Dieter Regnat: I think that the use of
soft- and hardware as well as the
integration into enterprise application
software in production will be developed
on a high level. That goes along with
further automation. Efficient use of
resources will be mandatory. Sustainable
operation will become a key asset for
chemical companies.
we.CONECT:
Thanks a lot for this interview!
Interview Partner: Peter Haack and Dr.
Dieter Regnat.
Dr. Dieter Regnat is a Head of Clariant
Production at CLARIANT SYSTEM YEE /
Germany.
Dr. Dieter Regnat started his career in 1990
with the former Hoechst AG at Frankfurt. He
spent 4 years in the central R&D department
and moved then to the production of fine
chemicals. After two year as plant assistant, he
became plant manager. Then he moved to a
project management position in process
development in Frankfurt. Afterwards he
became head of New Business Development
for the BU Custom Manufacturing in
Muttenz/Switzerland at Clariant. Three year
later he moved back to production and held the
position of Head of production BU Textile
Chemicals Europe for five years. In July 2012,
he joined the Clariant Excellence Organization
as Head of Clariant Production System YEE,
which stands for Yield, Energy, and
Environment.
Global ManuChem Strategies brings together
industry leaders to discuss the current state of
the industry, the impact of new regulations and
the challenge to increase efficiency in chemical
operations and technical assets.
Information about the event and
we.CONECT can be found at:
http://production-chemicals2014.weconect.com
about
Contact:
Henry Fuchs
Managing Director / Product Management &
Marketing
Phone: +49 (0)30 52 10 70 3 – 44
Fax: +49 (0)30 52 10 70 3 – 30
Email: henry.fuchs@we-conect.com
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