Bidita Barman Krishna, Chief Technical Advisor – Process Controls and Instrumentation, Kellogg Brown and Root India Technology Centre.

With 26 years of experience in engineering, spanning roles from Maintenance Manager to Chief Technical Advisor, what inspired you to pursue a career in instrumentation and control systems?

Actually, my choice of ‘Instrumentation and Control’ discipline as an undergraduate major was by chance! But once into the course it soon fascinated me in that the discipline integrated my favorite concepts in physics offering solutions in electronics and electrical engineering to advance industrial automation.

When I joined IPCL in the year 1995 as graduate trainee, I was exposed to outdated pneumatic technologies of the 1960s still in use in IPCL Vadodara plant to the latest DCS control technology of 1990s in IPCL Nagothane plant.

Fast forward to today, where technology has evolved to current state-of-the-art autonomous process control technologies!

It’s been an exciting journey from an undergraduate in the field to my current leadership position where choices of technology selection we make, and applications we design have long term implications shaping the future of the industry!

You’ve held leadership roles in both technical and administrative capacities. What key principles guide your leadership style, especially in

managing diverse teams?

At the very core of engaging with teams and individuals is respect for each individual. As a leader, recognising the strengths and potentials of each individual and leveraging these strengths is key to successful outcomes underpinned by happy thriving teams.

As the Chief Technical Advisor at KBR, you’ve worked on major projects like the BPCL refining project and received the MVP Award. Could you share the challenges faced during this project and how you achieved success?

Key challenges on this project, like some of the other projects we have worked on, were competing demands of having to respond to a large volume of client queries and delivering the project on time and within budget. We were able to leverage our proven technology designed to KBR and international standards to allay the majority of the concerns from the client. Where our standard offering did not meet client requirements, we were able to move ahead by implementing specially engineered solutions.

Your contributions to the KBR Top Innovation Award for best-used automation tools stand out. What innovative solutions or approaches led to this recognition?

I was lead of the Innovation Project Team which had the following advantages and contributions towards sustainability:

Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT Analysis)

Strengths

-Increase in Project Job Income (JI)

-Deliver good quality design package due to minimal Manual work

-Methodical work process

-Database can be used for future jobs

-Data can be further used for FEED/Detail Engineering Jobs

-Time saving, and

-Internal KBR skillset used for modification.

Opportunities

-Ease in implementing Smart tool for preparing data sheets

-Equipment Elevation summary can be extracted from this, and

-Easy identification and tracking of revised cases for FE and CV.

Threats – NIL

Contributions to KBR’s Economic, Environmental, or Social Sustainability

·         Economic sustainability: Automation, Time Saving, Less Manual Intervention, and Improved Document Quality. Modification in Poseidon will not cut down the hours for CV & FE summary preparation to zero, but we can save significant hours compared to our conventional approach.

·         Environmental sustainability: No Printing as No manual checking on printouts

·         Social sustainability: Manpower can be used for more productive work and other vital deliverables.

You’ve been instrumental in advancing inclusion and diversity practices, leading a team with 25% female representation. What initiatives have been the most impactful in creating a more inclusive workplace?

More and more women are now showing interest in the STEM field. But still its work in progress, more so in disciplines such as Instrumentation and Controls. In addition, traditionally women are less mobile, and tend to prefer jobs closer to home. This further means we have to look within certain geography limiting the talent pool.

From our side, we make efforts to go to college campuses to share inspiring stories from KBR and tell potential talents about KBR and how KBR nurtures inclusivity and diversity and its an institution to learn while at work.

Also, at KBR equal opportunities are given for meeting clients abroad for site exposure, etc. Flexibility in timing of work and other opportunities are also practiced. KBR has tied up with a creche near the office to keep babies near their mothers. 

Serving as the Administrative and Technical Head, how do you balance the technical demands of your role with your responsibilities as a mentor and leader?

The population of ~30 engineers is divided into 08 teams, each team with a team lead. Each individual contributor and team leader has a level of authorisation to make technical and not technical decisions based on regular assessments. Any unusual issues are escalated to subject matter experts recognised across teams. Certain complex issues may require convening of brainstorming sessions or even looking for newer technologies.

As a leader my key responsibility is to enable my teams to make decisions within their authorisation levels and escalate any unusual concerns to me so I can facilitate and support them with additional resources.

All of what we do is underpinned by ensuring continuous learning of hard and soft skills by active individualised coaching and mentoring.

Having worked on innovative solutions in plant safety, reliability, and operation, what do you believe is the next big frontier in instrumentation engineering?

AI powered advance and autonomous process control undoubtedly is the most promising frontier. We are already seeing applications of AI assistants in designing, problem solving,  digitisation and reducing repetitive work. Digital twin is going to entrench itself as basic backbone infrastructure supporting plant operations to visualise running plants,establishing correlations and causations without disturbing the running plant.

What is your opinion on the role of Industrial Automation magazine in showcasing industry trends and empowering women in technology and automation?

The field of automation and instrumentation is a fast changing and advancing sector, it's important to keep up with the advancements, best practices, and updates on emerging trends in AI, IoT, etc., promoting in depth knowledge in their application in different kinds of industries to improve productivity and sustainability. Industrial Automation magazine collates Factory and Industrial automation needs in India, is a source of information to people associated in this field and contributes to the growth of the automation sector.

By actively reaching out, and providing a platform and voice to women professionals, the magazine is doing a yeoman’s job of promoting technology and automation among women.

What are the three words that best describe how it feels to be a finalist in the Women in Tech 2025 competition?

Inspiring. Encouraging. Gratifying.

Bidita Barman Krishna in her own words: Presently working as Chief Technical Advisor in Control system engineering department in KBR (formerly Kellogg Brown and Roots) India Technology Centre (ITC), New Delhi (India).

After completing BSc (Physics) and later B. Tech (Instrumentation and Electronic Engineering) from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 1996 joined as Management Trainee in Indian Petrochemical Corporation Limited, a Government of India undertaking, established with the objective of promoting the development of the petrochemical industry in India which later became a part of Reliance Industries Limited (Nagothane). Initially worked in Central Engineering, Chemical plants, Polymer plants in Maharashtra Gas Cracker complex, next as Plant discipline and Operation, and later as General Manager in 2011.

 I joined KBR India as Technical Advisor in 2012 now serving for nearly 13 years. I have overall 26 years of rich experience in various aspects of engineering including Basic, Front End, Detail Engineering, Commissioning, Reliability, Plant Safety-Integrity, Maintenance and Plant Operation and as HOD of Control systems Engineering department.

 I have received MVP Award for exemplary work for contributing to the KBR BPCL refining project. Also awarded KBR innovation award for best used Automation tool and received Certificate of recognition for contribution to KBR values during years in service.