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AVEVA VPRM 9.

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Managing projects faster, better, more economically

Executing an engineering project is a complex process. It involves workflows that require the collaboration of many participants: the client, various engineering disciplines, procurement and construction personnel, vendors and subcontractors. Vast quantities of technical, financial and administrative data are generated during the life of a project. This data is created and shared across many locations that are often separated by considerable distances and time zones. AVEVA VPRM is an integrated engineering IT solution suite that supports all phases of the process plant engineering workflow. From engineering design and specification, through 3D layout to procurement, materials management and project control, VPRM provides unrivalled data integrity, within a framework of applications which is flexible enough to meet the diverse requirements of users. It can also integrate with other engineering solutions, many analysis packages, business systems and CAD engines. VPRM facilitates the management of risk, improves the quality of execution, reduces costs and provides project control throughout the life of a project. VPRM helps to ensure that: The right materials are delivered to the right place, at the right time. The right documents are issued at the right time, to the right person. Progress and costs are accurately monitored. Management decisions are based on up-to-date, accurate and timely data. Coherent historical data is available for use when bidding for new projects. Accurate and detailed data can be extracted for management reporting.

Business Benets
Comprehensive report writing capabilities allow for information to be readily available to enable fast, well-informed management decisions. Accurate management of resources means reduced waste, optimal ordering lead times, control of schedule, all providing reductions in time and cost. Consistent and controlled documents improve project quality and reduce man-hours by getting the project right first time. VPRM's architecture with a Web interface allows for exceptional collaboration across multilocation project teams, enabling more efficient global working. Sophisticated interaction with the AVEVA PDMS 3D plant design system and the AVEVA VPE engineering database system saves time and cost on projects, by ensuring that material management activities are consistent with the engineering specification. Fast implementation. VPRM's preloaded templates, together with the highly-experienced AVEVA support team, allow you to quickly implement VPRM fully or in part, integrating it with your existing systems and processes.

Mapping of major Business Areas and AVEVA VPRM functionality

PLANT

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Key Features
Project Management VPRM gives project managers full visibility of project progress, and ensures controlled access to project data. Complete Overview of Project Progress All project data is available for use in the project management functions of a project. The object-based approach of VPRM means that an item can be easily tracked through the P&ID stage to 3D, and into materials management. In this way, VPRM gives project managers a complete overview of project progress, with a minimum of effort. Project Control Access control and authority rights can be set up to exactly reflect the contract terms between the various parties working on the contract. This ensures that only personnel with the correct authority can update or change data. Using VPRM's data object technology it is possible to record and monitor the status and maturity of the design data. This information can be used to make tactical decisions affecting project progress for example, to expedite information that is holding up the project, or to stop design work on an area where the input data is immature, meaning that the design will have to be reworked later. Change Management All design development is recorded so that progress reports can be created to assist in tracking changes. When monitoring a project, proactive notification of changes in status is a key requirement. To assist this process, VPRM can be used to distribute an automated email, configured to reach the right people, easily and with no manual intervention. An example of this would be communicating changes in engineering requirements identified by the issue of a material requisition. Information Management Project management has traditionally involved finding project information by analysing detailed reports and holding time-consuming and expensive meetings with managers and lead engineers. VPRM allows management to concentrate on real management.
AFD - Planned AFD - Actual AFC - Actual AFD - Forecast AFC - Forecast

Identifying and Requisitioning Material The controlled release, on an object basis, of tagged items from the P&IDs, equipment list and instrument index, ensures that the correct items are requisitioned and subsequently procured. When design changes occur, the items affected are proactively highlighted for appropriate action, wherever they are within the supply chain. As the design matures, the preliminary Material Take Off (MTO) can be compared to the current MTO. This means that the forecast for total material usage can be successively adjusted to the final amount. As a result, materials managers can place an initial order for material early on, then adjust the order later to ensure that they only receive the material that is actually needed. VPRM facilitates the control of bulk material for all disciplines, guaranteeing total integrity throughout process design (P&IDs), detailed design and layout, and requisitioning. Design Document Control VPRM's Design Document Control integrates with document management systems, enabling a project manager to control the issue, and monitor the progress, of documents as they are identified, produced or received, reviewed, used and completed. VPRM integrates document workflow information, and maintains a consistent, project-wide methodology for document numbering, monitoring and control, so that a significant improvement in document production can be realised. Reports are generated to show the status of document progress, and to highlight deviations from project forecasts and plans, allowing appropriate corrective measures to be taken. Vendor Document Control Controlling the large volume and complexity of vendor documents can be a major problem. A project needs to minimise the amount of documentation requested, whilst ensuring it has sufficient content to meet its design, installation, and operational needs. It must also monitor the review and approval process, and control the distribution process. VPRM supports all these tasks and ensures the timely delivery of documents to meet both the detailed engineering and the construction programmes.

The detailed data input by departmental users is automatically collated to present an easily assimilated, high-level management report for review, action and inclusion in monthly reports. This is achieved through up-to-date, reliable, factual data presented in the form of trend graphs and highlighted problem performance-versus-target matrices. Information management can cover materials, documents, progress and productivity, and costs. The result is the realisation of more effective and proactive management, significantly reducing project risk at lower manhour costs. Materials Management Delivering the right material, in the right quantity, to the right place, at the right time, is a fundamental requirement of any project. VPRM enables you to control all material throughout its full lifecycle from initial identification by the engineering department, through procurement, to final installation, thus reducing the risk of equipment surplus and/or equipment delays.

AFC - Planned

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Design Documents Status Graph

Procurement VPRM proactively supports and controls the full procurement lifecycle through: Controlled receipt of requisitions from the engineering department. Enquiry production and bid receipt (also enabling vendors to submit bids electronically). Bid analysis. Purchase order production (the complete package via integral Microsoft Word link). Expediting and inspection. Despatch and shipping to the material's final destination, whether local or international. Managing Materials for Construction Delivery dates for all materials are set during procurement to meet the construction programme. VPRM continuously tracks delivery of materials, which means that site planners can easily monitor the availability of required materials from inventory or by their forecast delivery date. This clear visibility of planned deliveries allows construction managers to check schedules, to identify problems early, and expedite the material and reschedule workpacks as necessary. Using these tools, managers are in full control of their work, using their skills and expertise to optimise the construction process on a day-by-day basis. At this stage, the majority of the cost benefits are realised. In particular, customers using VPRM will have reduced surplus material and minimise the issues of subcontactor claims.

Material Delivery Status Graph

Fast Implementation Unlike other products, VPRM can quickly be implemented and ready for project use. It comes with a wealth of ready-to-use quality reference data, such as material catalogue data and vendor document requirement schedules. It can use and generate specifications, and can interact/ integrate with the rest of the AVEVA Plant products, as well as with other commercially available and in-house systems. Complete or Partial Solution VPRM offers most benefits when used in its entirety but, because of its modular nature, a customer can select to use just some of its functions. VPRM can be used either as the total solution, or as a partial solution alongside other in-house or third-party software, for the control and management of all aspects of a project from beginning (preliminary estimates) to end (construction complete).

Cumulative Planned Period Planned

Cumulative Forecast Period Forecast

Cumulative Actual Period Actual

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Materials Management Status Graph

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Key Features (continued)


Added Value for PDMS Users VPRM is a particularly effective solution when used alongside AVEVA PDMS. When implemented in full, and used with PDMS, VPRM is particularly effective, and operates as a seamless, integrated solution. Significant man-hour savings have been realised in piping specification production. Significant savings in staff costs are achievable as a result of the reduced skill levels required for producing piping specifications. Total integrity is ensured between material details on piping isometrics and requisitions / purchase orders. Easy-to-use Data Input / Output Facilities Whilst VPRM is a large and sophisticated application, it has been designed with easy-to-use facilities for both data input and output. Data can be input via either a set of user-friendly screens or using bulk data input facilities, via Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, for example. EPC contractors and their clients want engineers to spend their valuable and expensive time on executing projects, not on designing reports, so VPRM is delivered with a comprehensive suite of standard reports that will address the vast majority of a project's needs. But each individual project and client naturally has specific needs that cannot be anticipated, so VPRM also provides sophisticated user report-writing tools. Seamless Integration As with all quality software, an essential requirement is for all the various disciplines and departments to work on the same, approved data. By achieving this, not only are man-hours saved and errors reduced, but the resultant data integrity will go a long way towards achieving a quality project. Consequently, VPRM is designed to ensure this is achieved, not only between VPRM's own functions, but also across the entire suite of project execution systems.

About AVEVA PDMS PDMS is a datacentric, multidisciplinary design environment for the 3D modelling of process plant. It has modules for the design of equipment, piping, HVAC, structure and cable trays. Modelling is carried out using a customer-defined catalogue and specification, in a full 3D environment, with the support of tools that ensure a clash-free design. A full range of drawings and pipe isometrics can be produced automatically from the model.

About AVEVA VPE VPE Workbench is an integrated engineering database which manages the evolving engineering descriptions of all tagged items in a plant. VPE P&ID is a P&ID drafting module that also provides two-way synchronisation of P&IDs with the Workbench database.

AVEVA believes the information in this publication is correct as of its publication date. As part of continued product development, such information is subject to change without prior notice and is related to the current software release. AVEVA is not responsible for any inadvertent errors. All product names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright 2007 AVEVA Group plc. All rights reserved. VPRM/DS/07

PLANT
AVEVA Group plc High Cross Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0HB UK Tel +44 (0)1223 556655 Fax +44 (0)1223 556666 www.aveva.com

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