Prothya shutdown
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Project

MoVE: Shutdown bij Prothya

Shutdown through the eyes of an experienced colleague

Xenia, Senior Validation Engineer

The shutdown at Prothya, formerly Plasma Industries Belgium, is an assignment Advipro has been doing for several years. The size of the job is impressive; with two shifts of 5 colleagues, we revalidate the cleanrooms in 5 days. One additional colleague takes care of the review and communication between the two shifts. The preparation, execution and reporting have been optimized so well over the years that it is clear to everyone what they have to do and everything can run smoothly. For example, some colleagues already have several years of experience at Prothya and the test forms on which we enter our results are largely set up in advance. So a lot of time can go to the testing itself and knowledge transfer/training. We have also recently optimized our filter integrity test so that we no longer lose time on possible edge leakage around the filter.

Admittedly, it remains a tough job! We come back every year, but no two years are the same. I myself took charge of the day shift this year. It was useful that I had helped test a lot in the cleanrooms the year before and could fall back on that experience. So this year I was able to coordinate, direct and help where necessary. Together with my colleague Aline, who performed the QA role and reviewed all documents, I communicated with Prothya's QA. After all, the customer expects regular updates on the works.... Along the other side, they also took care of the technical support when, for example, a leaking filter was found by the Test Engineers in the clean room. Prothya arranged for a new filter and Advipro then took care of removing the old one and reinstalling the new one.

As the workday drew to a close for the day shift, colleagues from the evening shift poured in. Using a written document, the tests performed were listed, as well as what still needed to be done and what was most urgent. The day shift found a new version of this document the next morning and was also able to get to work right away.

The nice thing about this assignment is that it is five intensive days, but by working so intensely with your team the atmosphere is tremendously good. There are stressful moments, but then you can fall back on each other and everyone helps where they can. The coffee cakes and pita were the cherries on the cake as a reward for the hard work! Everyone really deserved that!

In summary, whether you are testing in the clean room, coordinating from above, or reporting and discussing results with the necessary parties, it is hugely educational for everyone who goes along.

The group of nice colleagues creates a bond for later and a satisfied customer at the end completes the job! I'm not taking a vacation next year in August... Count me in for Prothya Shutdown 2023!

Xenia Declercq
Shutdown Prothya

Shutdown through the eyes of a new colleague

Pallieter, Junior Project Engineer

During my very first working day at Advipro, I was asked to support the MoVE department during the shutdown of Prothya. Two weeks later it was then, the big production shutdown of Prothya and our first steps into the work field.

Our first day at Prothya began with registering our training and on-site training of their gowning procedure. Like chicks behind the mother duck, we followed our more experienced colleagues. We began with flow measurements of the, no less than, 350 filters present using the flowhoods. This was to check whether the number of air changes met the requirements of the various rooms. After about 2 days of working with the flowhoods, all flow measurements were completed. With somewhat stiff arms, we could move on to testing the integrity of all the filters. During these tests, the cell phone became our best friend. After all, we needed it to communicate with the person who had to blow in smoke from the technical area outside the clean room. While smoke was being blown in from outside, we had to count the number of particles that passed through the filter. Thanks to these tests, we found 2 leaking filters. Three hundred filters further and two days later, the particle counts were on the program. A day and a half flew by and all particle counts were done. With half a day left, we were left with the recovery tests and smoke studies to finish the deadline. In this first test, we polluted the clean rooms with smoke to then see how long it takes for the number of particles in the air to drop back to baseline. In the smoke studies, we create visible smoke in the room to visualize how the air flows inside this room.

Due to everyone's hard work, everything was finished neatly within deadline. To end the week we were treated to a good durum.

To sum up, it was a very instructive, intensive, tiring but above all fun week.

Pallieter De hornois
Shutdown Prothya 2022