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// Configuration object for centralized settings
const TabbedNavConfig = {
  DESKTOP_BREAKPOINT: 1201,
  DEBOUNCE_DELAY: 250,
  OPEN_FIRST_TAB: true,
  CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT: false
};

// Custom config for tabbed hero containers
const tabbedHeroConfig = {
  ...TabbedNavConfig,
  OPEN_FIRST_TAB: false,
  CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT: true
};

// Function to determine the appropriate config based on container context
function getConfigForContainer(container) {
  // Check if container has closest ancestor with [data-tabbed-hero="true"]
  const heroAncestor = container.getAttribute('data-tabbed-hero') === 'true'   ? container : container.closest('[data-tabbed-dropdown="true"]');
  
  if (heroAncestor) {
    return tabbedHeroConfig;
  }
  
  // Check for specific data-instance attributes (if you still want to support them)
  // const instance = container.getAttribute('data-instance');
  // if (instance === 'two') {
  //   // You can still have specific instance configs if needed
  //   return {
  //     ...TabbedNavConfig,
  //     OPEN_FIRST_TAB: false,
  //     CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT: true
  //   };
  // }
  
  // Default config
  return TabbedNavConfig;
}

class TabbedNavigation {
  constructor(container, config = TabbedNavConfig) {
    this.container = container;
    this.config = config;
    this.activeItem = null;
    this.isDesktop = window.innerWidth >= this.config.DESKTOP_BREAKPOINT;
    this.hasMouseListeners = false;
    this.megamenuParent = null;
    this.megamenuObserver = null;
    
    // Initialize bound handlers - these will be reused across reinitializations
    this.mouseEnterHandler = this.handleMouseEnter.bind(this);
    this.mouseLeaveHandler = this.handleMouseLeave.bind(this);
    this.resizeHandler = this.debounce(this.handleResize.bind(this), this.config.DEBOUNCE_DELAY);
    this.handleMegamenuToggle = this.handleMegamenuToggle.bind(this);
    
    this.init();
  }

  init() {
    // Cache DOM elements fresh each time
    this.navItems = [...this.container.querySelectorAll('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li')];
    this.elementsCache = new Map();
    
    this.cacheElements();
    this.setupAccessibility();
    this.setupMegamenuObserver();
    this.bindEvents();

    // Set initial state
    this.updateLayout();
    this.setBackText()

    // Show first item on page load only if desktop, not nested, and OPEN_FIRST_TAB is true
    if (this.navItems.length > 0 && this.isDesktop && this.config.OPEN_FIRST_TAB) {
      setTimeout(() => {
        const firstItem = this.navItems[0];

        // Count how many .dwc-tabbed-nav-container ancestors this.container has
        let count = 0;
        let current = this.container.parentElement;
        while (current) {
          if (current.classList?.contains('dwc-tabbed-nav-container')) {
            count++;
          }
          current = current.parentElement;
        }

        const isNested = count >= 1;

        if (!isNested && this.elementsCache.has(firstItem)) {
          this.showTab(firstItem);
        }
      }, 0);
    }
  }

  // Setup observer for megamenu parent
  setupMegamenuObserver() {
    // Find the .brx-has-megamenu parent
    this.megamenuParent = this.container.closest('.brx-has-megamenu');
    
    if (this.megamenuParent) {
      // Set initial inert state
      this.updateInertState();
      
      // Create a MutationObserver to watch for class changes
      this.megamenuObserver = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
        mutations.forEach((mutation) => {
          if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'class') {
            this.updateInertState();
          }
        });
      });
      
      // Start observing the megamenu parent for class changes
      this.megamenuObserver.observe(this.megamenuParent, {
        attributes: true,
        attributeFilter: ['class']
      });
    }
  }

  // Update inert state based on megamenu open/closed state
  updateInertState() {
    if (!this.megamenuParent) return;
    
    const isOpen = this.megamenuParent.classList.contains('open');
    
    if (isOpen) {
      this.container.removeAttribute('inert');
    } else {
      this.container.setAttribute('inert', '');
    }
  }

  // Handle megamenu toggle (for manual triggering if needed)
  handleMegamenuToggle() {
    this.updateInertState();
  }

  // Method to clean up event listeners and reset state
  cleanup() {
    // Remove all event listeners
    this.container.removeEventListener('click', this.handleClick);
    this.container.removeEventListener('keydown', this.handleKeydown);
    this.container.removeEventListener('focus', this.handleFocus);
    
    // Remove mouse listeners if they exist
    if (this.hasMouseListeners) {
      this.container.removeEventListener('mouseenter', this.mouseEnterHandler, true);
      this.container.removeEventListener('mouseleave', this.mouseLeaveHandler, true);
    }
    
    // Remove resize listener
    window.removeEventListener('resize', this.resizeHandler);
    
    // Clean up megamenu observer
    if (this.megamenuObserver) {
      this.megamenuObserver.disconnect();
      this.megamenuObserver = null;
    }
    
    // Reset state
    this.activeItem = null;
    this.hasMouseListeners = false;
    this.megamenuParent = null;
    
    // Clear caches
    if (this.elementsCache) {
      this.elementsCache.clear();
    }
    this.navItems = [];
    
    // Reset all tab states and accessibility attributes
    const allNavItems = this.container.querySelectorAll('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li');
    allNavItems.forEach(item => {
      const button = item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__button') || 
                    item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__btn-txt');
      const content = item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__content');
      
      // Remove classes
      item.classList.remove('active');
      
      // Reset button attributes
      if (button) {
        button.removeAttribute('role');
        button.removeAttribute('aria-controls');
        button.removeAttribute('aria-expanded');
        button.removeAttribute('aria-selected');
        button.removeAttribute('tabindex');
        button.removeAttribute('id');
      }
      
      // Reset content attributes
      if (content) {
        content.removeAttribute('role');
        content.removeAttribute('aria-labelledby');
        content.removeAttribute('id');
        content.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
        content.style.maxHeight = '';
      }
      
      // Remove data attributes
      item.removeAttribute('data-tab-index');
    });
    
    // Reset nav list role
    const navList = this.container.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list');
    if (navList) {
      navList.removeAttribute('role');
    }
    
    // Remove inert attribute
    this.container.removeAttribute('inert');
  }

  // Public method to reinitialize the navigation
  reinitialize() {
    this.cleanup();
    this.isDesktop = window.innerWidth >= this.config.DESKTOP_BREAKPOINT; // Use config breakpoint
    this.init();
  }

  // Cache DOM elements to avoid repeated queries
  cacheElements() {
    const uniqueIdBase = `tab-${Date.now()}`;
    
    this.navItems.forEach((item, index) => {
      const button = item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__button') || 
                    item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__btn-txt');
      const content = item.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__content');
      
      this.elementsCache.set(item, {
        button,
        content,
        uniqueId: `${uniqueIdBase}-${index}`,
        index
      });
    });
  }

  setupAccessibility() {
    const navList = this.container.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list');
    if (!navList) return;
    
    navList.setAttribute('role', 'tablist');
    
    for (const [item, cache] of this.elementsCache) {
      const { button, content, uniqueId, index } = cache;
      
      if (button) {
        button.setAttribute('role', 'tab');
        button.setAttribute('aria-controls', `${uniqueId}-panel`);
        button.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
        button.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'false');
        button.setAttribute('tabindex', '0');
        button.setAttribute('id', `${uniqueId}-tab`);
      }
      
      if (content) {
        content.setAttribute('role', 'tabpanel');
        content.setAttribute('aria-labelledby', `${uniqueId}-tab`);
        content.setAttribute('id', `${uniqueId}-panel`);
        content.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
      }
      
      item.setAttribute('data-tab-index', index);
    }
  }

  bindEvents() {
    // Store bound handlers for cleanup
    this.handleClick = this.handleClick.bind(this);
    this.handleKeydown = this.handleKeydown.bind(this);
    this.handleFocus = this.handleFocus.bind(this);
    
    // Single event delegation for better performance
    this.container.addEventListener('click', this.handleClick);
    this.container.addEventListener('keydown', this.handleKeydown);
    this.container.addEventListener('focus', this.handleFocus, true);
    
    // Passive resize listener for better performance
    window.addEventListener('resize', this.resizeHandler, { passive: true });
    
    this.updateMouseListeners();
  }

  updateMouseListeners() {
    if (this.isDesktop && !this.hasMouseListeners) {
      this.container.addEventListener('mouseenter', this.mouseEnterHandler, true);
      this.container.addEventListener('mouseleave', this.mouseLeaveHandler, true);
      this.hasMouseListeners = true;
    } else if (!this.isDesktop && this.hasMouseListeners) {
      this.container.removeEventListener('mouseenter', this.mouseEnterHandler, true);
      this.container.removeEventListener('mouseleave', this.mouseLeaveHandler, true);
      this.hasMouseListeners = false;
    }
  }

  // Helper method to get sibling nav items (nav items in the same container level)
  getSiblingNavItems(navItem) {
    // Find the direct parent container of this nav item
    const navItemContainer = navItem.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list');
    if (!navItemContainer) return [];
    
    // Get all nav items that are direct children of the same container
    const siblingItems = [...navItemContainer.querySelectorAll('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li')];
    
    // Filter to only include items that are siblings (not the navItem itself)
    // and check if they belong to any TabbedNavigation instance
    return siblingItems.filter(item => item !== navItem);
  }

  handleFocus(e) {
    if (!this.isDesktop) return;

    const button = e.target.closest('[role="tab"]');
    if (!button) return;
    
    const navItem = button.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li');
    if (!navItem || !this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    this.handleTabInteraction(navItem, 'focus');
  }

  handleClick(e) {
    const navItem = e.target.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li');
    if (!navItem || !this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    const button = e.target.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__button, .dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__btn-txt');
    if (!button) return;
    
    e.preventDefault();
    this.handleTabInteraction(navItem, 'click');
  }

  handleKeydown(e) {
    const button = e.target.closest('[role="tab"]');
    if (!button) return;
    
    const navItem = button.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li');
    if (!navItem || !this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    const { index: currentIndex } = this.elementsCache.get(navItem);
    
    switch (e.key) {
      case 'Enter':
      case ' ':
        e.preventDefault();
        this.handleTabInteraction(navItem, 'keyboard');
        break;
      case 'ArrowRight':
      case 'ArrowDown':
        e.preventDefault();
        this.focusNextTab(currentIndex);
        break;
      case 'ArrowLeft':
      case 'ArrowUp':
        e.preventDefault();
        this.focusPrevTab(currentIndex);
        break;
      case 'Home':
        e.preventDefault();
        this.focusTab(0);
        break;
      case 'End':
        e.preventDefault();
        this.focusTab(this.navItems.length - 1);
        break;
    }
  }
  
  handleMouseEnter(e) {
    if (!this.isDesktop) return;
    
    const navItem = e.target.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li') || 
                   (e.target.matches('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li') ? e.target : null);
    if (!navItem || !this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    this.handleTabInteraction(navItem, 'hover');
  }

  handleMouseLeave(e) {
    if (!this.isDesktop) return;
    
    // Only close tabs if CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT is enabled
    if (this.config.CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT) {
      // Check if mouse is leaving the entire container
      const rect = this.container.getBoundingClientRect();
      const { clientX, clientY } = e;
      
      // Check if mouse position is outside the container bounds
      const isOutsideContainer = (
        clientX < rect.left || 
        clientX > rect.right || 
        clientY < rect.top || 
        clientY > rect.bottom
      );
      
      if (isOutsideContainer) {
        this.hideAllTabs();
      }
    }
    // If CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT is false, keep content visible (original behavior)
  }

  // Unified method to handle all tab interactions with nesting support
  handleTabInteraction(navItem, interactionType) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    if (this.isDesktop) {
      // Simply hide siblings and show the target - works for all scenarios
      this.hideSiblingTabs(navItem);
      this.showTab(navItem);
    } else {
      // Mobile accordion behavior
      if (interactionType === 'click' || interactionType === 'keyboard') {
        this.toggleTabMobile(navItem);
      }
    }
  }

  // Hide only sibling tabs (same container level)
  hideSiblingTabs(navItem) {
   // console.log('Nav Item: ', navItem)
    const siblings = this.getSiblingNavItems(navItem);
    
    siblings.forEach(sibling => {
      
         //console.log('sibling: ', sibling)
      // Only hide siblings that have the active class to avoid affecting other instances
      if (sibling.classList.contains('active')) {
        this.hideSiblingTab(sibling);
      }
    });
  }

  // Hide a sibling tab (used when we know it's a sibling from another instance)
  hideSiblingTab(navItem) {
    const button = navItem.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__button') || 
                  navItem.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__btn-txt');
    const content = navItem.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__content');
    
    if (content && button) {
      content.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
      button.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
      button.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'false');
      navItem.classList.remove('active');
      
      // Also handle mobile accordion collapse
      if (!this.isDesktop) {
        content.style.maxHeight = '0';
      }
    }
  }

  // Mobile-specific toggle behavior with proper nesting support
  toggleTabMobile(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    const isActive = navItem.classList.contains('active');
    
    if (isActive) {
      this.collapseTab(navItem);
    } else {
      // Close sibling tabs and open this one
      this.hideSiblingTabs(navItem);
      this.expandTab(navItem);
    }
  }

  toggleTab(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    if (this.isDesktop) {
      this.handleTabInteraction(navItem, 'click');
    } else {
      this.toggleTabMobile(navItem);
    }
  }

  showTab(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    const { button, content } = this.elementsCache.get(navItem);
    
    if (content && button) {
      content.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'false');
      button.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
      button.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'true');
      navItem.classList.add('active');
    }
    
    this.setActiveTab(navItem);
  }

  hideTab(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    const { button, content } = this.elementsCache.get(navItem);
    
    if (content && button) {
      content.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
      button.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
      button.setAttribute('aria-selected', 'false');
      navItem.classList.remove('active');
    }
    
    // Only clear activeItem if it belongs to THIS navigation instance
    // and it's the exact item being hidden
    if (this.activeItem === navItem && this.navItems.includes(navItem)) {
      this.activeItem = null;
    }
  }

  expandTab(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    // Close sibling tabs
    this.hideSiblingTabs(navItem);
    
    this.showTab(navItem);
    
    // Smooth height animation
    const { content } = this.elementsCache.get(navItem);
    if (content) {
      const height = content.scrollHeight;
      content.style.maxHeight = `${height}px`;
    }
  }

  collapseTab(navItem) {
    if (!this.elementsCache.has(navItem)) return;
    
    this.hideTab(navItem);
    
    const { content } = this.elementsCache.get(navItem);
    if (content) {
      content.style.maxHeight = '0';
    }
  }

  hideAllTabs() {
    this.navItems.forEach(item => this.hideTab(item));
  }

  setActiveTab(navItem) {
    // Only update aria-selected for tabs in THIS navigation instance
    this.navItems.forEach(item => {
      const cache = this.elementsCache.get(item);
      if (cache?.button) {
        cache.button.setAttribute('aria-selected', item === navItem ? 'true' : 'false');
      }
    });
    
    // Only set activeItem if this navItem belongs to THIS navigation instance
    if (this.navItems.includes(navItem)) {
      this.activeItem = navItem;
    }
  }

  focusTab(index) {
    if (index >= 0 && index < this.navItems.length) {
      const cache = this.elementsCache.get(this.navItems[index]);
      if (cache?.button) {
        cache.button.focus();
      }
    }
  }

  focusNextTab(currentIndex) {
    const nextIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % this.navItems.length;
    this.focusTab(nextIndex);
  }

  focusPrevTab(currentIndex) {
    const prevIndex = currentIndex === 0 ? this.navItems.length - 1 : currentIndex - 1;
    this.focusTab(prevIndex);
  }

  handleResize() {
    const wasDesktop = this.isDesktop;
    this.isDesktop = window.innerWidth >= this.config.DESKTOP_BREAKPOINT; // Use config breakpoint
    
    if (wasDesktop !== this.isDesktop) {
      this.updateMouseListeners();
      this.updateLayout();
    }
  }

  updateLayout() {
    const currentlyActive = this.activeItem;

    // Reset all states
    this.hideAllTabs();

    // Clear inline styles
    this.navItems.forEach(item => {
      const cache = this.elementsCache.get(item);
      if (cache?.content) {
        cache.content.style.maxHeight = '';
      }
    });

    if (this.isDesktop) {
      // Determine if this tab instance is nested
      let count = 0;
      let current = this.container.parentElement;
      while (current) {
        if (current.classList?.contains('dwc-tabbed-nav-container')) {
          count++;
        }
        current = current.parentElement;
      }
      const isNested = count >= 1;

      if (!isNested && this.config.OPEN_FIRST_TAB) {
        if (currentlyActive) {
          this.showTab(currentlyActive);
        } else if (this.navItems.length > 0) {
          this.showTab(this.navItems[0]);
        }
      }
    }
  }

  setBackText(){
    let tabElement = document.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container');
    let tabBackText = tabElement.getAttribute('data-back-text')
    document.querySelectorAll('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__button').forEach(tabBtn => {
        const textContent = tabBtn.textContent.trim();
        const tabIcon = tabBtn.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-list__li__arrow-icon');
        if (tabIcon) {
            tabIcon.setAttribute('data-text', textContent);
            tabIcon.setAttribute('data-back-text', tabBackText);
        }
    });
  }

  // Simple debounce for resize
  debounce(func, wait) {
    let timeout;
    return function executedFunction(...args) {
      const later = () => {
        clearTimeout(timeout);
        func(...args);
      };
      clearTimeout(timeout);
      timeout = setTimeout(later, wait);
    };
  }

  // Public method to destroy the instance completely
  destroy() {
    this.cleanup();
    // Additional cleanup can be added here if needed
  }

  // Public method to manually update inert state (if needed)
  updateInert() {
    this.updateInertState();
  }
}

// Simplified initialization on DOM ready
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
  const tabbedNavContainers = document.querySelectorAll('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container');
  
  tabbedNavContainers.forEach(container => {
    // Skip if this container is nested inside another dwc-tabbed-nav-container
    const parentNavContainer = container.parentElement.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container');
    if (parentNavContainer) {
      return; // Skip nested containers
    }
    
    // Get the appropriate config for this container
    const config = getConfigForContainer(container);
    
    // Initialize with the determined config
    new TabbedNavigation(container, config);
  });
});

// For dynamic content - Updated version
window.initTabbedNav = function(container, customConfig = null) {
  if (container && container.classList.contains('dwc-tabbed-nav-container')) {
    // Check if this is a nested container
    const parentNavContainer = container.parentElement.closest('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container');
    if (parentNavContainer) {
      return null; // Don't initialize nested containers
    }
    
    // Use custom config if provided, otherwise determine config automatically
    const config = customConfig || getConfigForContainer(container);
    return new TabbedNavigation(container, config);
  }
  return null;
};

/*
// TO REINITIALIZE USE THIS
// Create an instance of TabbedNavigation
const tabbedNav = new TabbedNavigation(document.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container'));

// Call reinitialize on the instance
tabbedNav.reinitialize();

// TO USE WITH CUSTOM CONFIG
const customConfig = {
  DESKTOP_BREAKPOINT: 768,
  DEBOUNCE_DELAY: 300,
  OPEN_FIRST_TAB: false,  // This will prevent first tab from opening automatically
  CLOSE_TAB_ON_MOUSEOUT: true  // This will close tabs when mouse leaves container
};
const tabbedNavCustom = new TabbedNavigation(document.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container'), customConfig);

// TO UPDATE ON URL CHANGE
function onUrlChange() {
    setTimeout(function () {
const tabbedNav = new TabbedNavigation(document.querySelector('.dwc-tabbed-nav-container'));
tabbedNav.reinitialize();

    }, 1500); // Delay execution by 2 seconds
}

// Listen for popstate event (history navigation)
window.addEventListener('popstate', onUrlChange);

// Listen for hashchange event (URL hash change)
window.addEventListener('hashchange', onUrlChange);

// Handle pushState and replaceState
(function (history) {
    const pushState = history.pushState;
    const replaceState = history.replaceState;

    history.pushState = function (state) {
        if (typeof history.onpushstate == "function") {
            history.onpushstate({ state: state });
        }
        const result = pushState.apply(history, arguments);
        onUrlChange(); // Call the function when pushState is used
        return result;
    };

    history.replaceState = function (state) {
        if (typeof history.onreplacestate == "function") {
            history.onreplacestate({ state: state });
        }
        const result = replaceState.apply(history, arguments);
        onUrlChange(); // Call the function when replaceState is used
        return result;
    };
})(window.history);

*/

console.log('%c<Jamie Sheehan Web Design Mega Menu Pro Tabbed Navigation v1.0>', 'color: #b388eb');

When Legacy Systems Become the Biggest Risk to Refinery UptimeĀ 

August 10, 2026

In this post...

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Maintaining the digital infrastructure of a modern refinery is an exercise in managing risk. Behind the flashing status lights of the control room often lies a web of legacy software, custom point-to-point integrations, and decaying data architecture. This technical debt directly erodes processing margins and compromises systemic reliability. 

Operating under these conditions is anxiety-inducing. You’re tasked with keeping systems online that were deployed decades ago. The original developers have retired. The third-party vendors have left the market. And now, the core applications are in an extended end-of-life phase with no clear replacement. 

Each of these on its own is manageable. Together, they turn every shift into a guessing game about which patch, connection, or handover breaks first. Your team is sitting on the edge of a system that could fail at any time. And if software support is phased out, you’re responsible for the operational risk and recovery alone.  

This piece looks at what that a legacy system costs a refinery day to day, why the obvious fix rarely works, and what a better-fitting solution offers instead. 

The Cost of Maintaining the Status Quo 

To keep legacy downstream systems afloat, IT departments are patching together with bespoke API wrappers or complex Excel macros just to keep the business running. These workarounds suffice in the interim but turn technical talent into digital mechanics for end-of-life infrastructure. 

When a critical database connection drops or a phased-out software module crashes, the operational team instantly loses visibility into live inventory, tank constraints, and product specs. The consequences can range from immediate to long-lasting.  Here’s how it shows up:  

  • Delayed decisions. Legacy point solutions mean information arrives late and often needs correcting before anyone can act on it. 
  • Wasted operational bandwidth. Schedulers spend hours validating numbers that should already be trustworthy, instead of optimising logistics. 
  • Extended close cycles. Hydrocarbon accounting teams need weeks to complete what should be a routine monthly close. 

While the root cause is tied to architectural failure, organisations end up absorbing these costs because there’s no way to get ahead of these downtimes. 

Eliminating Risk Before Seeking Optimisation 

It’s hard to build an optimisation programme on top of decaying software. Before an IT leader can successfully introduce advanced analytics or machine learning tools to drive refinery margins, the underlying foundation must be stable, secure, and fully supported

When core applications are phased out, your IT team is forced to spend time patching brittle connections and praying nothing breaks rather than driving business value. You cannot innovate and plan for the future when you are firefighting and patching up the past.

Replacing legacy infrastructure is an urgent operational necessity to protect the facility from sudden system downtime. The downstream market is moving too quickly to tolerate these technical blind spots. Waiting until a core system experiences a crash is playing with fire. 

ERPs: The Logical Safety Net 

A common next instinct is to explore established enterprise suites like ERPs to build a replacement solution. Initially, this makes sense because these platforms are heavily relied upon for global corporate governance, financial compliance, and high-level inventory management.  

But the technical debt emerges from trying to stretch these solutions to cover the realities of refinery operations. Site operations require a highly dynamic, physical lens—managing shifting lab qualities from a LIMS, adjusting live tank blending, or tracking erratic pipeline nominations. 

To force the fit, highly customised code must be built on top of the central ledger, which further builds technical debt. This unintentionally creates an ongoing IT burden to update or maintain the custom workarounds in place.  

An ERP wasn’t designed to account for physical losses or manage complex hydrocarbon movements. Modern operators are turning to solutions like Maron OAS to handle refinery mass balance and oil accounting instead of stretching a makeshift solution to cover ground it was never built for.  

Out with the Old and In with the New  

There is often anxiety when considering what a system overhaul might cost. How disruptive will the migration be? Will this just be an inherited black box we don’t fully understand? How long will the transition drag on?  

We’veĀ supported refineries through thisĀ processĀ before.Ā Maron Systems stands behindĀ flexible and modularĀ implementation models toĀ minimiseĀ operational disruption, withĀ clientsĀ frequentlyĀ seeingĀ a time-to-value of 12 months fromĀ go-live.Ā Ā A named support contact and 24/7Ā monitoringĀ meansĀ you will not be holding theĀ operational riskĀ alone anymore.Ā Ā 

Compliance, access control, and audit logging are native to the platform rather than something your team must build and maintain. Maron OAS gives your site a baseline to operate from, rather than another project to conquer.   

Maron OAS is designed for the operational realities of refineries, capturing data across siloed systems and supporting decision-making for oil accounting, berth planning, and inventory management. Built on three decades of downstream experience, it replaces brittle legacy systems without introducing new ones in their place.  

Technical debt, operational anxiety, lack of stability and reliability are all signs pointing toward the same thing: it’s time to move on from end-of-life architecture.

IfĀ you’reĀ ready to make that moveĀ towards a more stable solution,Ā let’sĀ talk.Ā 

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Additional Benefits

  • Accelerated financial results for real-time decision making
  • Automated hydrocarbon pricing based on quality inspection results for accountants
  • Incorporating historical oil losses per location into transactions to reduce/eliminate oil loss claims
  • Identify differences between test method nominated versus method performed by inspection companies
  • Communicate real-time test results as they are available for prompt trading opportunities
  • Inspection cost savings from use of Navarik Inspection Price Estimator
  • All data centralised with the ability to extract key information for data analytics