Real Life Stories – SAP Supported Plant Lifecycle Management

Some of our modern technical plants now easily attain lifecycles spanning 40 to 50 years. As a result, mountains of related information may eventually pile up. Consequently, integrated data management is emerging as an increasingly important tool that helps businesses plan and operate a plant efficiently and cost effectively. At the ACHEMA 2009, Karlsruhe-based DSC Software AG demonstrates that SAP-based document management, CAD data administration and file management are no longer solutions made solely for use by experts.

Karlsruhe, Germany 30th March 2009 – Technical plant lifecycles – also referred to as plant lifecycles – are characterized by two phases: planning and operation. Heaps of information are generated during both of these phases. The information is required by different specialized departments within the company for a multitude of purposes. Regardless of who needs it – the plant manager, the engineer or the service technician – it always has to be consistent, up-to-date and available on demand.

SAP systems comprise document management, CAD data administration and file management – hence, a whole range of functions. The DSC solutions portfolio Engineering Control Center, abbreviated ECTR warrants that the information can also be utilized by users who do not possess specific expertise. “Experience all the benefits of PLM and use it – and you do not need to have expert know-how to do it,“ promises Joachim Röder, Chief Executive Officer of DSC Software AG as he invites tradeshow visitors to stop by DSC‘s booth.

Many plant engineering businesses and plant operators are already utilizing SAP in applications such as logistics, finance or maintenance. Other available options, such as SAP’s document management or CAD integration solutions, on the other hand, remain idle. Companies fail to take advantage of the possibilities inherent in CAD data, documents and other master data for subsequent processes, such as the planning of service and maintenance work. If processes such as maintenance or procurement do not access up-to-date data or if the data stream between the individual specialized disciplines has not been optimized, these kinds of scenarios can actually produce losses.

ECTR is a solution that can be directly integrated into a variety of CAD systems, for instance AutoCAD P&ID 2009. Any process flow charts or circuit diagrams and other engineering data generated in this system are administrated in SAP the instant they are generated. Moreover, the solution warrants the accurate and consistent transfer of planning and master data generated in the CAD system to other processes depicted in SAP. The fact that ECTR is linked to  SAP Records Management, enables users to create electronic project and operations files at the touch of a button. The most stunning feature: once a project is finalized, a defined control installation ensures that all documents and SAP objects that are relevant for the operation of the plant are moved to the pertinent operations file.

ECTR’s intuitive operation and its easy-to-comprehend graphic interface put every employee at ease when using SAP functions and enable users to manage SAP objects in a structured manner. This flexible solution meets a wide spectrum of user needs within the respective phases of the plant lifecycle – from planning and operation to the final step, when the equipment is taken out of service.  Supplementary modules, such as the data exchange module ++dataExchange, which is also available from DSC, render ECTR the perfectly aligned tool for any company’s integrated SAP data management needs.

ECTR’s key features:
SAP utilized as a mutual engineering platform
ECTR provides an intuitive user interface for all engineering relevant SAP objects
ECTR is a flexible solution for modular uses
Allows the integration of CAx, MS Office and e-mail systems
Document administration with version and change management
An excellent tool for efficient data exchange with external partners
Documents all projects centrally and uniformly
Integration into the SAP classification
Makes it possible to obtain a wealth of valuable information thanks to consistent and up-to-date plant data

About ACHEMA 2009
Drawing about 4,000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, the ACHEMA 2009 has established itself as the world’s most important exhibition convention for suppliers of the chemical industry, for the protection of the environment and for biotechnology. The 29th ACHEMA will be open from May 11 – 15 and anticipates approximately 180,000 visitors.
DSC Software AG will present its exhibit on the SAP Partner Booth at the ACHEMA 2009 – Hall 10.1, Booth F36-G39.

About DSC Software AG
DSC Software AG is headquartered in Karlsruhe. The company provides software solutions and process consulting services for SAP PLM.  DSC optimizes its customers‘ SAP supported product lifecycle management, technical document, content and document management business processes. Engineering Control Center (ECTR) is a basic software program that allows users to provide clear, well-structured presentations of SAP objects and structures and to easily manage and organize them across the entire planning and operating processes of an industrial plant. ECTR is SAP Certified – Powered By SAP NetWeaver. The company itself is a Preferred Partner of SAP AG and the developer of the SAP product SAP PLM Integration for NX.

More information about products and services provided by DSC Software AG under www.dscsag.com.

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DSC Software AG
Dr. Arne Gaiser
Am Sandfeld 17
76149 Karlsruhe, Germany
Telephone: +49 (0)721/9774-100