Method for supervising a production island

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for supervising a production island, which comprises a plurality of independent production entities (1, 2, 3, 4) and a human-machine interface (6) for an operator (7). The method comprises: - outputting to the human-machine interface (6) a warning signal representative of the nature of the signalled alarm; and - if the nature of the updated signalled alarm comprises the nature of the alarm being processed and the nature of an updated priority alarm, the operator (7) selecting the alarm being processed or the updated priority alarm.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Process for supervising a production island

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the supervision of a production island comprising a plurality of independent production entities and a human-machine interface for an operator.

[0005] State of the prior art

[0006] Typically, a production island comprises a plurality of independent production units.

[0007] An operator supervises the entire island.

[0008] When one of the production units stops, for example due to the occurrence of a failure in a component of this entity or a disruption in the supply of materials, the operator is informed of this stoppage by the triggering of an alarm and then seeks to resolve the cause of the alarm triggering in order to restart the production unit.

[0009] Several alarms can appear simultaneously on several production units in the island so that the operator then receives a significant amount of information in a disorderly manner, which increases his mental load and can create disorganization in the choice of tasks to prioritize to restart the production units.

[0010] The operator can then become less efficient, which lengthens the duration of production stoppages.

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] In view of the above, the invention proposes a method for supervising a production island comprising a plurality of independent production entities and a human-machine interface for an operator, the method comprising: a) receiving two alarm signals from at least one production entity of the production island, b) determining the nature of a first alarm and the nature of a second alarm from the two alarm signals, c) assigning a first weighting coefficient to the first alarm according to the nature of the first alarm and assigning a second weighting coefficient to the second alarm according to the nature of the second alarm, d) storing in an alarm history the nature of the first and second alarms and the first and second weighting coefficients,e) a first comparison between the first and second weighting coefficients stored in the alarm history to determine a priority alarm, the priority alarm being associated with the weighting coefficient having the lowest value, f) a first delivery to the human-machine interface of a warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator comprising the nature of the priority alarm, g) a first selection by the operator of an alarm being processed comprising the priority alarm, h) a reception of an Nth alarm signal from at least one production entity of the production island, N being greater than or equal to 3, i) a determination of the nature of an Nth alarm from the Nth alarm signal, j) an assignment of an Nth weighting coefficient to the Nth alarm according to the nature of the Nth alarm,k) storing the nature of the Nth alarm and the Nth weighting coefficient in the alarm history, l) a second comparison between the Nth weighting coefficient and each weighting coefficient stored in the alarm history except for the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm currently being processed to update the priority alarm, m) determining at least one updated weighting coefficient which includes the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm currently being processed updated according to the duration between the first selection and the reception of the Nth alarm signal, n) updating the nature of the alarm notified to the operator from the weighting coefficient updated in step m) and the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1), the nature of the alarm notified to the operator comprising the nature of the alarm currently being processed,or the nature of the alarm being processed and the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1), and o) a second delivery to the human-machine interface of the warning signal representative of the nature of the signaled alarm updated in step n), and p) if the nature of the signaled alarm updated includes the nature of the alarm being processed and the nature of the priority alarm updated, a second selection by the operator of the alarm being processed or the priority alarm updated.,

[0014] The process makes it possible to prioritize the processing of alarms and to present a limited number of two alarms simultaneously to the operator in order to reduce his mental load, to facilitate the management of shutdowns of production units and to reduce the duration of these shutdowns.

[0015] Preferably, when the cause of triggering an alarm is resolved by the operator, said alarm is deleted from the alarm history.

[0016] Advantageously, the determination of the nature of an alarm and the allocation of the weighting coefficient to said alarm comprises:

[0017] - an extraction of data from the alarm signal associated with said alarm representative of said alarm,

[0018] - a third comparison of the received data with predetermined reference data sets, each reference data set being associated with a different type of alarm, each type of alarm being associated with a weighting coefficient,

[0019] - an identification of a set of different alarm natures from the third comparison, and - a selection of the alarm nature from the set of alarm natures having the highest weighting coefficient, the nature of said alarm being equal to the nature of the alarm having the highest weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficient of said alarm being equal to the highest weighting coefficient.

[0020] Preferably, each weighting coefficient comprises a weight, each weight comprising the inverse of a duration allocated to the resolution of the cause of triggering of the alarm associated with said weight, the updated weighting coefficient being equal to the duration allocated to the resolution of the cause of triggering of said alarm reduced by the duration between the last selection made by the operator and the reception of the last alarm signal, and the updating of the nature of the alarm notified to the operator in step n) comprising:

[0021] - a determination of the difference between the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the weighting coefficient updated in step m), and

[0022] - if the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm and the nature of the alarm currently being processed.

[0023] Advantageously, each weighting coefficient comprises a weight, each weight comprising an initial cost value, the updated weighting coefficient being equal to the initial cost value updated according to the duration between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the updating of the nature of the alarm notified to the operator in step n) comprising:

[0024] - a determination of the difference between the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the weighting coefficient updated in step m), and

[0025] - if the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm and to the nature of the alarm currently being processed. Preferably, if the absolute value of the difference is less than the predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm in step 1).

[0026] Advantageously, each weighting coefficient comprises an index, each index being determined from at least two weights associated with said alarm, a first weight comprising a duration allocated to resolving the cause of triggering of said alarm and the second weight comprising an initial cost associated with said alarm,

[0027] - the updated weighting coefficient being determined from the first updated weight equal to the sum of the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm associated with said weighting coefficient and the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the priority alarm, the sum being reduced by the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the second weight equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the priority alarm and the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, the updating of the nature of the alarm notified to the operator in step n) comprising:

[0028] - the determination of the first synthetic index from the updated weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficient of the priority alarm,

[0029] - the determination of a second synthetic index from a second updated weighting coefficient and a second weighting coefficient of the priority alarm,

[0030] - the second updated weighting coefficient being determined from the first updated weight equal to the sum of the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm being processed and the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the priority alarm less the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the second weight equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal and the initial cost associated with the priority alarm according to the duration of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal,

[0031] - the nature of the alarm notified to the operator being equal to the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is greater than the second synthetic index or being equal to the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is less than the second synthetic index.

[0032] Preferably, the method comprises the delivery of a maintenance signal comprising the nature of the priority alarm when the weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm is greater than a critical threshold.

[0033] Brief description of the figures

[0034] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0035] [Fig 1] illustrates an example of a production island according to the invention;

[0036] [Fig 2] schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a supervision device according to the invention;

[0037] [Fig 3] schematically illustrates a first example of implementation of the supervision device according to the invention; and

[0038] [Fig 4] schematically illustrates a second example of implementation of the supervision device according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0039] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of a production island comprising four independent production entities 1, 2, 3, 4, a supervision device 5, and a human-machine interface 6 connected to the supervision device 5.

[0040] Of course, the production island can include more or less than four production entities.

[0041] An operator 7 supervises the production entities 1, 2, 3, 4 from information delivered by the human-machine interface 6.

[0042] The human-machine interface 6 comprises, for example, a screen and / or sound means delivering sound information.

[0043] Each production entity 1, 2, 3, 4 comprises at least one sensor 11, 12, 13, 14 capable of detecting an alarm from said production entity.

[0044] An alarm is defined as being a failure of an organ of a production entity 1, 2, 3, 4 and whose failure resolution time is estimated to be less than a critical time equal to, for example, 10 minutes, or as being a probable disruption in the supply of material to a production entity 1, 2, 3, 4 whose resolution is less than the critical time.

[0045] An alarm may include a technical fault, for example the detection of abnormal vibrations experienced by a production entity 1, 2, 3, 4 and / or the breakage of a sensor 1, 12, 13, 14.

[0046] An alarm may further include a quality defect in the material used by the production entity 1, 2, 3, 4.

[0047] An alarm may cause a production shutdown of said production entity.

[0048] When the resolution time is greater than the critical time, the failure or disruption of material supply is classified as a breakdown.

[0049] The resolution of a breakdown is ensured by operators of a maintenance service, operator 7 exclusively resolving the causes of triggering of alarms. Figure 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the supervision device 5.

[0050] The supervision device 5 comprises reception means 15, determination means 16, storage means 17, first comparison means 18, first updating means 19, second updating means 20, and delivery means 21 connected to the human-machine interface 6.

[0051] The reception means 15 are capable of receiving signals delivered by the sensors 11, 12, 13, 14, each signal comprising data representative of an alarm.

[0052] The reception means 15 comprise, for example, a communication interface.

[0053] The determination means 16 are capable of determining the nature of an alarm from a signal received by the reception means 15 and of assigning a weighting coefficient to said alarm.

[0054] The determination means 16 comprise extraction means 22 capable of extracting the data representative of an alarm from the signal associated with said alarm, second comparison means 23, and identification means 24.

[0055] The data includes, for example, the identification of the sensor that detected the alarm, each sensor being associated with a component of a production entity 1, 2, 3, 4.

[0056] The second comparison means 23 are connected to second storage means 26 located outside the device 5 as shown.

[0057] Alternatively, the second comparison means 23 can be integrated into the device 5.

[0058] The storage means 17 are capable of storing a history of alarms of the nature of the alarms and the associated weighting coefficients determined by the determination means 16.

[0059] The first comparison means 19 are capable of comparing the weighting coefficients stored in the alarm history with each other to determine a priority alarm. The delivery means 21 are capable of delivering to the interface 6 a warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator 7.

[0060] The delivery means 21 comprise, for example, a communication interface.

[0061] The interface 6 is capable of indicating to the operator 7 the nature of an alarm from the warning signal delivered by the delivery means 21, and comprises selection means so that the operator 7 can select an alarm from a plurality of alarms contained in the warning signal.

[0062] It is assumed in the following that the interface 6 comprises a touch screen 6a capable of displaying at least one alarm and of delivering to the delivery means 12 a signal representative of the alarm selected by the operator 7.

[0063] Figure 3 illustrates a first example of implementation of the supervision device 5.

[0064] For the description of the implementation method which follows, it is assumed that the first sensor 11 of the first production entity 1 delivers a first alarm signal S1 and that the second sensor 12 of the second production entity 2 delivers a second alarm signal S2, and that no alarm is delivered by the delivery means 21.

[0065] It is also assumed that each weighting coefficient includes a weight. Each weight includes the inverse of a duration allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm associated with said weight.

[0066] According to another variant, each weight may include an initial cost value associated with said alarm, the initial cost value being, for example, the estimate of the loss of earnings generated by the production entity associated with the alarm.

[0067] During a step 30, the reception means 15 receive the first and second signals S1, S2.

[0068] During a step 31, the extraction means 22 extract data from the alarm signals S1, S2. During a step 32, the second comparison means 23 compare the data extracted by the extraction means 22 with predetermined reference data sets stored in the second storage means 26.

[0069] Each reference data set is associated with a different alarm nature, and each alarm nature is associated with a different weighting coefficient.

[0070] During a step 33, the identification means 24 collect the reference data sets similar to the extracted data and the weighting coefficients for the data sets.

[0071] The identification means 24 select the alarm nature from the set of alarm natures having the highest weighting coefficient.

[0072] The nature of said alarm is equal to the nature of the alarm having the highest weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficient of said alarm is equal to the highest weighting coefficient.

[0073] It is assumed that the signal SI is associated with a first alarm AL I having a first weight PI and that the signal S2 is associated with a second alarm AL2 having a second weight P2 greater than the first weight PI.

[0074] The first weight PI is equal to the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the ALI alarm and the second weight P2 is equal to the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the AL2 alarm.

[0075] During a step 34, the storage means 17 store each associated alarm / weighting coefficient pair (ALI, P l ), ​​(AL2, P2).

[0076] During a step 35, the first comparison means 18 compare the first and second weights stored in the alarm history and determine a priority alarm associated with the lowest weight.

[0077] The priority alarm is equal to the first alarm ALI associated with the first weight PI less than the second weight P2. During a step 36, the delivery means 21 deliver to the interface 6 the warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator 7 comprising the priority alarm.

[0078] Interface 6 signals the first alarm to operator 7.

[0079] When screen 6a displays the priority alarm, during a step 37, the operator 7 selects an alarm being processed comprising the priority alarm, in this case the first alarm at this stage.

[0080] Operator 7 selects and informs device 5 of the alarm it is processing.

[0081] It is assumed that during a step 38, the reception means 15 receive a third signal S3.

[0082] During a step 39, the extraction means 22 extract data from the alarm signal S3.

[0083] During a step 40, the second comparison means 23 compare the data extracted by the extraction means 22 with predetermined reference data sets stored in second storage means 26.

[0084] During a step 41, the identification means 24 collect the reference data sets similar to the extracted data and the weighting coefficients for the data sets.

[0085] It is assumed that the signal S3 is associated by the identification means 24 with a third alarm AL3 having a third weight P3 greater than the first weight PI and less than the second weight P2.

[0086] During a step 42, the storage means 17 also store the alarm / weighting coefficient pair associated with the third alarm (AL3, P3).

[0087] During a step 43, as the delivery means 21 deliver to the interface 6 the warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator 7 comprising the first alarm AL I, the first comparison means 18 compare the third weight P3 and the second weight P2 stored in the alarm history to update the priority alarm. The priority alarm is equal to the third alarm AL3 associated with the third weight P3 less than the second weight P2.

[0088] During a step 44, the first updating means 19 determine an updated weighting coefficient which includes the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm currently being processed updated according to the duration between the first selection in step 36 and the reception of the third alarm signal S3 in step 38.

[0089] Alternatively, when each weight includes an initial cost value associated with said alarm, the updated weighting coefficient is equal to the initial cost value updated according to the duration between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal.

[0090] During a step 45, the second updating means 20 update the nature of the alarm notified to the operator based on the weighting coefficient updated in step 44 and the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 43.

[0091] The second updating means 20 determine the difference between the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 43 and the weighting coefficient updated in step 44.

[0092] If the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm and the nature of the alarm currently being processed.

[0093] If the absolute value of the difference is less than the predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 43.

[0094] During a step 46, the delivery means 21 deliver to the human-machine interface the warning signal representative of the nature of the alarm signal updated in step 45.

[0095] If the nature of the updated alarm includes the nature of the alarm currently being processed and the nature of the updated priority alarm, during a step 47, the operator 7 selects, using the human-machine interface, the alarm currently being processed or the updated priority alarm.

[0096] Operator 7 is free to choose whether to continue processing the alarm currently being processed or the priority alarm.

[0097] When the cause of triggering the alarm is resolved by the operator 7, the alarm signal corresponding to said alarm is no longer received by the reception means 15.

[0098] The storage means 17 delete the alarm / coefficient pair associated with the cause of triggering of the resolved alarm from the alarm history.

[0099] If the weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm is greater than a critical threshold comprising the critical duration, the delivery means 21 deliver a maintenance signal comprising the nature of the priority alarm to a processing unit (not shown) in order to alert an operator of a maintenance service.

[0100] When each weight is associated with a cost, the critical threshold is equal to a critical cost.

[0101] When other alarms are triggered, the first implementation mode starts at step 38 for each alarm.

[0102] Figure 4 illustrates a second example of implementation of the supervision device 5.

[0103] In a manner identical to the first implementation example which has just been described, it is also assumed here that the first sensor 11 delivers a first alarm signal S11 and that the second sensor 12 delivers a second alarm signal S12, and that no alarm is delivered by the delivery means 21.

[0104] It is further assumed that each weighting coefficient associated with an alarm comprises an index determined from two weights associated with said alarm. A first weight comprises the inverse of a duration allocated to resolving the cause of triggering said alarm and the second weight comprises an initial cost associated with said alarm.

[0105] The index is for example equal to the multiplication of the first and second weights. Of course, the index can be determined from more than two weights, the index being for example equal to the multiplication of said weights.

[0106] The process begins with steps 30, 31, 32 described previously.

[0107] During the following step 33, the identification means 24 select the alarm nature from the set of alarm natures having the highest index.

[0108] It is assumed that the signal SI is associated with a first alarm AL 1 1 having a first index II equal to the multiplication of a first weight P 11 and a second weight P 12, and that the signal S2 is associated with a second alarm AL21 having a second index 12 equal to the multiplication of a first weight P21 and a second weight P22.

[0109] The first weight P li is equal to the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the first alarm ALI 1 and the second weight P 12 includes the initial cost associated with said alarm.

[0110] The first weight P21 is equal to the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the second alarm AL21 and the second weight P22 includes the initial cost associated with said alarm.

[0111] It is further assumed that the first index II is of lower value than the second index 12.

[0112] We find step 34 described previously. The storage means 17 store each pair of associated weighting coefficient alarms (AL II, II), (AL21, 12).

[0113] We find step 35.

[0114] The priority alarm is equal to the first alarm AL 1 1 associated with the first index II lower than the second index 12.

[0115] During step 36, the delivery means 21 deliver the warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator 7 comprising the priority alarm.

[0116] Operator 7 selects an alarm being processed that includes the priority alarm.

[0117] It is assumed that during step 38, the receiving means 15 receive a third signal S31.

[0118] We then find steps 39, 40 described previously. During step 41, it is assumed that the identification means 24 associate the signal S31 with a third alarm AL31 having an index 13 greater than the first index II and less than the second index 12.

[0119] Index 13 is equal to the multiplication of a first weight P31 and a second weight P32.

[0120] The first weight P31 is equal to the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the third alarm AL31 and the second weight P32 includes the initial cost associated with said alarm.

[0121] We find step 42 and step 43, the priority alarm being equal to the third alarm AL31 associated with the third index 13 lower than the second index 12.

[0122] During a step 50, the first updating means 19 determine an updated weighting coefficient which includes the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the duration between the first selection in step 36 and the reception of the third alarm signal S31 in step 38.

[0123] The updated weighting coefficient is equal to the multiplication of the first updated weight P li and the second updated weight P 12.

[0124] The first updated weight is equal to the sum of the time allocated Pl i to resolving the cause of triggering the first alarm AL 1 1 and the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the priority alarm.

[0125] The sum is reduced by the time between the last selection made by operator 7 and the receipt of the third alarm signal S31.

[0126] The second updated weight is equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the priority alarm and the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the duration between the last selection made by operator 7 and the receipt of the third alarm signal S31.

[0127] During a step 51, the second updating means 20 update the nature of the alarm notified to the operator based on the weighting coefficient updated in step 50 and the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 43.

[0128] The second updating means 20 determine a first synthetic index, for example by multiplying the first index updated in step 50 and the weighting coefficient of the priority alarm.

[0129] The first synthetic index is representative of the resolution of the cause of triggering the priority alarm and then of the resolution of the cause of triggering the alarm being processed.

[0130] The second updating means 20 further determine a second synthetic index representative of the resolution of the cause of triggering of the alarm currently being processed and then of the resolution of the cause of triggering of the priority alarm.

[0131] The second synthetic index is equal to the multiplication of a second updated weighting coefficient and a second weighting coefficient of the priority alarm.

[0132] The second updated weighting coefficient is determined from the first updated weight P li and two second updated weights P21.

[0133] The first updated weight is equal to the sum of the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm currently being processed and the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the priority alarm less the time between the last selection made by operator 7 and the receipt of the third alarm signal S31.

[0134] The second updated weight is equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the duration between the last selection made by the operator 7 and the receipt of the third alarm signal S31 and the initial cost associated with the priority alarm according to the duration of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the duration between the last selection made by the operator 7 and the receipt of the third alarm signal S31. The nature of the alarm notified to the operator 7 is equal to the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is greater than the second synthetic index or is equal to the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 43 and the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is less than the second synthetic index.

[0135] If the nature of the updated alarm includes the nature of the alarm currently being processed and the nature of the updated priority alarm, during step 47, the operator 7 selects using the interface 6 the alarm currently being processed or the updated priority alarm.

[0136] Operator 7 is free to choose whether to continue processing the alarm currently being processed or the priority alarm.

[0137] When the cause of triggering an alarm is resolved by the operator 7, the alarm signal corresponding to said alarm is no longer received by the reception means 15.

[0138] The storage means 17 delete the alarm / coefficient pair associated with the cause of triggering of the resolved alarm from the alarm history.

[0139] If the weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm is greater than a critical threshold comprising a critical index, the delivery means 21 deliver a maintenance signal comprising the nature of the priority alarm to a processing unit (not shown) in order to alert an operator of a maintenance service.

[0140] As previously stated, the implementation modes are described for triggering three alarms only for brevity.

[0141] Of course, the number of alarms processed can be greater than three, with each implementation starting at step 38 for each new alarm.

[0142] In the preceding examples, each weight is associated with the inverse of a duration allocated to resolving the cause of triggering said alarm or includes an initial cost associated with said alarm. Alternatively, each weight may include a cost linked to the non-production of a production entity, a profit value linked to the sale of a product produced by a production entity, a cost linked to intermediate storage between two production entities (buffer stock), or a cost associated with loss of material.

[0143] Device 5 makes it possible to prioritize the processing of alarms and simultaneously present to the operator a limited number of two alarms so as to reduce his mental load, and increase the availability rate of the production units. Device 5 also makes it possible to distribute the resolution of the cause of alarm triggering to other personnel such as maintenance operators depending on the magnitude of the alarm detected.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method for supervising a production island comprising a plurality of independent production entities (1, 2, 3, 4) and a human-machine interface (6) for an operator (7), the method comprising: a) receiving two alarm signals (SI, S2) from at least one production entity (1, 2, 3) of the production island, b) determining the nature of a first alarm and the nature of a second alarm from the two alarm signals (SI, S2), c) assigning a first weighting coefficient to the first alarm according to the nature of the first alarm and assigning a second weighting coefficient to the second alarm according to the nature of the second alarm, d) storing in an alarm history the nature of the first and second alarms and the first and second weighting coefficients,e) a first comparison between the first and second weighting coefficients stored in the alarm history to determine a priority alarm, the priority alarm being associated with the weighting coefficient having the lowest value, f) a first delivery to the human-machine interface of a warning signal representative of the nature of an alarm notified to the operator comprising the nature of the priority alarm, g) a first selection by the operator of an alarm being processed comprising the priority alarm, h) a reception of an N, ieme alarm signal (S3) from at least one production entity of the production island, N being greater than or equal to 3, i) a determination of the nature of an N ieme alarm from N ieme alarm signal, j) an assignment of an N ieme weighting coefficient at N ieme alarm depending on the nature of the N ieme alarm, k) storage of the nature of N ieme alarm and N ieme weighting coefficient in the alarm history, l) a second comparison between the N ieme weighting coefficient and each weighting coefficient stored in the alarm history except the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm being processed to update the priority alarm, m) a determination of at least one updated weighting coefficient which includes the weighting coefficient associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the duration between the first selection and the receipt of the N iemealarm signal, n) an update of the nature of the alarm signaled to the operator based on the weighting coefficient updated in step m) and the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1), the nature of the alarm signaled to the operator (7) comprising the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1) or the nature of the alarm being processed and the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1), and o) a second delivery to the human-machine interface (6) of the warning signal representative of the nature of the signaled alarm updated in step n), and p) if the nature of the signaled alarm updated includes the nature of the alarm being processed and the nature of the priority alarm updated, a second selection by the operator (7) of the alarm being processed or the priority alarm updated.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein when the cause of alarm triggering is resolved by the operator (7), said alarm is deleted from the alarm history.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the determination of the nature of an alarm and the allocation of the weighting coefficient to said alarm comprises: - an extraction of data from the alarm signal associated with said alarm representative of said alarm, - a third comparison of the received data to predetermined reference data sets, each data set reference being associated with a different type of alarm, each type of alarm being associated with a weighting coefficient, - an identification of a set of different alarm natures from the third comparison, and - a selection of the alarm nature from the set of alarm natures having the highest weighting coefficient, the nature of said alarm being equal to the nature of the alarm having the highest weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficient of said alarm being equal to the highest weighting coefficient.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which each weighting coefficient comprises a weight, each weight comprising a duration allocated to the resolution of the cause of triggering of the alarm associated with said weight, the updated weighting coefficient being equal to the duration allocated to the resolution of the cause of triggering of said alarm less the duration between the last selection made by the operator and the reception of the last alarm signal, and the updating of the nature of the alarm notified to the operator in step n) comprising: - a determination of the difference between the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the weighting coefficient updated in step m), and - if the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm and the nature of the alarm currently being processed.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which each weighting coefficient comprises a weight, each weight comprising an initial cost value, the updated weighting coefficient being equal to the initial cost value updated according to the duration between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the updating of the nature of the alarm notified to the operator (7) in step n) comprising: - a determination of the difference between the priority weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the weighting coefficient updated in step m), and - if the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator is equal to the nature of the updated priority alarm and the nature of the alarm currently being processed.

6. Method according to claim 4, in which if the absolute value of the difference is less than the predetermined prioritization threshold, the nature of the alarm notified to the operator (7) is equal to the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which each weighting coefficient comprises an index, each index being determined from at least two weights associated with said alarm, a first weight comprising a duration allocated to the resolution of the cause of triggering of said alarm and the second weight comprising an initial cost associated with said alarm, - the updated weighting coefficient being determined from the first updated weight equal to the sum of the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm associated with said weighting coefficient and the time allocated to resolving the priority alarm, the sum being reduced by the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the second weight equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the priority alarm and the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, - updating the nature of the alarm notified to the operator in step n) including: - the determination of the first synthetic index from the updated weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficient of the priority alarm, - the determination of a second synthetic index from a second updated weighting coefficient and a second weighting coefficient of the priority alarm, - the second updated weighting coefficient being determined from the first updated weight equal to the sum of the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the alarm being processed and the time allocated to resolving the cause of triggering the priority alarm less the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, and the second weight equal to the sum of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal and the initial cost associated with the priority alarm according to the duration of the initial cost associated with the alarm being processed updated according to the time between the last selection made by the operator and the receipt of the last alarm signal, - the nature of the alarm notified to the operator being equal to the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is greater than the second synthetic index or being equal to the nature of the priority alarm updated in step 1) and the nature of the alarm being processed if the first synthetic index is less than the second synthetic index.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the delivery of a maintenance signal comprising the nature of the priority alarm when the weighting coefficient associated with the priority alarm is greater than a critical threshold.

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