PlantPortal™
Some companies have chosen to integrate their plant floor and
business systems at the application level. This is often referred to as Enterprise Application Integration
(EAI). While this can produce considerable business benefits, it is generally a complex and expensive process.
In many cases considerable benefits can be achieved merely by providing a simple, consistent form of access to various islands of electronic information and to convert the paper based systems into an electronic format so that they can also participate in this environment. This information needs to be made available to all appropriate levels of users in the business.
VRT has remained at the forefront of the rapid development in the internet area and has been delivering web based solutions to our industrial customer base for many years.
The Problem
Plant information is extremely heterogeneous and complex. It is very difficult to manage.
The Solution
Adapt the successful consumer and corporate portal internet technologies to the unique requirements of the individual plant environment, to provide a simple, consistent interface for all users to all their information.
Drivers
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Getting value from the volume and inconsistencies. |
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Use of IT to reduce costs and achieve strategic advantage. |
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Business structure, staff mobility and scarcity, etc., dictate better knowledge management. |
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Growing successes provide a template for application to business. |
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PlantPortal enables "self service" business intelligence for casual users. |
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Has democratised information access. |
Major Features
- Simple, consistent, web browser based interface.
- Personalisation of interface (role, individual, etc).
- Search facility.
- Integrate all data sources (PLC, SCADA, databases, documents).
- Security.
- Open technology, Internet/web based.
- Interactive: input, process, display, report.
Benefits
- Empower all employees to make better decisions.
- Integration across business functions, eg., Sales, Production, Maintenance.
- Integrate information from business partners, eg., outsourced laboratory, supply chain.
- Enable operation by KPIs, eg., production targets, quality compliance, cost variations, asset utilisation.
- Leverage off existing investments in SCADA and plant information systems.
- Low incremental cost of system expansion (no client licence fees).
- Consistent with enterprise and world wide community approach to knowledge management and interaction.
Some Customer Examples
Manufacturing
CSR (Ord River)
Mining
Shell (Capricorn Coal Management)
Rio Tinto (Kestrel Coal)
Utilities
Tarong Energy
Mt Isa Mines
