About McIlvaine
McIlvaine Company was founded in 1974. Bob McIlvaine was formerly president of an air pollution control company which partnered with Combustion Engineering to design and supply the world’s first commercial flue gas desulfurization system. From this experience came the realization that even the world’s most technically competent company, a supplier of nuclear reactors, was handicapped by the lack of organized technical information.
The first McIlvaine Company product was a looseleaf one-thousand page scrubber manual. Within a few months it was realized that while this manual provided answers, it did not alert the subscriber to new developments. The next product was a scrubber newsletter.
Within a few years McIlvaine was supplying complete knowledge systems in a number of areas. The term "infoculture" or the organized conversion of information to knowledge became the broader objective of the company.
Knowledge needs were identified as the four As: Alerts, Answers, Analysis and Advancement. Today, the Alert function is served by a number of electronically delivered weekly and monthly publications. They are supplemented by internet based reports which provide quick answers to questions. These reports also provide analysis of alternatives. They are supplemented by recorded audio and video interviews with experts. The advancement or training function is well served with the online reports and the recorded webinars.
In recent years the infoculture concept has evolved into a whole new level. It was realized that the answers and analysis needs could be best served with a fruitful decision tree. This tree should be more fruitful with time and therefore needs a root system which takes advantage of optimum mix of communications tools.
Millions of dollars have been spent to develop the FGD Decision Tree
FGD Decision Tree
A weekly alert, weekly webinars, monthly newsletters, continuing analysis, and other inputs provide continuous knowledge nourishment for the branches. Users can determine the impact of the latest rules, the significance of new technologies, and the cost ramifications of various choices.
Additional decision trees have been added and integrated into a complete Power Plant Air Quality Decisions System.
Power Plant Air Quality Decisions Tree
This system has been well received by the utility industry. Most utilities in the U.S. and some of the larger utilities in Europe are subscribers to the system. The Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, architect engineers and suppliers of air pollution control systems are also enthusiastic subscribers.
There is considerable pollination among decision trees. The co-benefit mercury removal along with SO2 is an example. One cannot make the best decisions regarding SO2 reduction without also accessing the decision trees on NOx, particulate and mercury.
Another discovery was the lack of pollination between industries. The power industry failed to build on discoveries in other industries. These observations led to a new concept "the global orchard"
The ideal application of infoculture is a global orchard of synergistically juxtaposed and fruitful decision trees.
Global Orchard
regarding coal-fired power plant air quality affect and are affected by decisions on greenhouse gas reduction. In turn decisions about wind, solar, and other renewable energies affect decisions regarding coal-fired power. In a broader sense, allocations of resources for healthcare, energy security and many other areas impact power generation choices.
The most significant achievement of the global orchard will be to foster pollination among the individual decision trees.
Pollination
One type of pollination is from the end users to the suppliers. Better intelligence on what is needed will result in better products. Another type of pollination is from the supplier to the investor to insure that the needed capital is available for the best products. There are too many examples of large amounts of capital invested in second rate technologies.
The McIlvaine Company has invested in full decision trees and has also started a number of seedlings. It will continue to expand its Johnny Appleseed role in the Global Orchard.
The McIlvaine World Market for Your Products is a service based on the interconnectivity of all human activity. The service tracks GDP, population, and industry growth in every country of the world. It also takes advantage of the knowledge about one product to predict others. The forecasts on valves can be used to predict the market for actuators and seals.
The weight of the clothing sold at retail can be used to determine the amount or resin produced. Future buying trends at retail can be used to determine future resin capacity needs.
The McIlvaine Company is growing to fulfill its ambitious goals. Activities are global with special emphasis placed on the Asian markets. The opportunities for developing countries to utilize the decision trees are immense. They allow these countries to instantly take advantage of the wisdom gathered over many decades in the developed countries.
The decision tree format is particularly valuable for those whose command of the English language is less than native speakers. The approach eliminates the need to wade through lots of extraneous material.
Also, it has been recognized that much of the world’s information now resides on the laptops of the industry experts. With the weekly recorded webinars this wisdom is being captured in the decision trees. Because of the many process flow diagrams and pictures the communication using power-points to those who have difficulty with English is especially effective.
McIlvaine sees its role as a neutral facilitator and is careful not to be in a position of representing any supplier. On the other hand, McIlvaine is undertaking projects which strengthen the decision tree system without comprising its position.
GE approached McIlvaine relative to hosting a webinar to present a new mercury control product. This webinar was very successful. While the live attendance was limited to GE prospects, the recorded webinar has been posted and is available to everyone.
The concept of wikonomics has been utilized to the advantage of sponsors and the industry as a whole. It resulted in free websites such as the one on air filter manufacturing.
The global orchard concept is still in its infancy but shows promise for universal application. The pollination benefits increase with each new tree. A fully populated orchard would materially change the world’s prosperity. McIlvaine welcomes the comments and participation of others in this ambitious task.
