How Digital Traceability Reduces Risk in Major Energy Projects with Tom Meulendijks | Energy Sector Heroes

Energy Sector Heroes ~ Careers in Oil & Gas, Sustainability & Renewable Energy

For anyone in the energy industry working with complex supply chains, high-risk materials, or capital-intensive projects, documentation and compliance can either be a massive time sink—or a strategic advantage. In this episode, I speak with Tom Meulendijks, founder of SteelTrace, about how digital traceability is quietly transforming how we manage steel procurement, reduce project delays, and prepare for a more circular future in oil, gas, and renewables.

Tom isn’t from the energy world originally—and that gives him a unique lens. He shares how he went from web development to building a data-driven tool that’s now used by operators to verify steel integrity, cut inspection costs, and reduce manufacturing risks.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Digital tools like SteelTrace don’t just reduce paperwork—they detect problems earlier and save projects from delays that cost millions.
• Moving from "compliance by audit" to "compliance by design" improves safety, reduces risk, and unlocks operational efficiency.
• Better traceability helps not only during procurement, but throughout the full lifecycle—from project planning to decommissioning and reuse.

✅ Actionable Takeaways:

🔹 Ask your quality teams where time is lost chasing documents or verifying materials—this is where digitisation delivers immediate ROI.

🔹 Review how your organisation handles material certificates and traceability—consider whether your current system would stand up in a disaster scenario.

🔹 Start early: Integrate compliance and digital QA tools in the FEED stage, not after the purchase orders are signed.