Information Management

The Problems

What are they?

Effective management of engineering information is hampered by the different computer systems, application programs and data formats used to create and store it. These incompatibilities affect:

• quantity - more than one copy of the same information can exist
• quality - these copies can differ in content and meaning
• exchange and sharing - because of the lack of a common "language" for describing information

Another problem is the mismatch between the lifecycle of a computer system or application program (less than two years and falling!) and that of a process plant and its associated information (greater than 20 years and rising!)

Are they mine?

In a word, YES!

All process plants follow a clear lifecycle - from design and construction to operation and decommissioning. This lifecycle involves many different organisations, including:

• owner/operators - often a partnership between several companies . They "own" the information and must maintain it as an accurate reflection of the plant "as is". They need easy access to information to support operations, maintenance and revamps
• contractors - for design, construction and maintenance. They generate much of the information, and need to control and manage it throughout the project so that it can be handed over to the owner/operator. They also need to exchange information rapidly and easily with equipment suppliers
• equipment suppliers - who also need to supply information in support of the lifecycle of their equipment
• regulatory bodies - concerned with quality, health, safety and the environment

So, wherever you fit into the plant lifecycle, the threats - and opportunities - associated with information management are YOURS!

How can they be overcome?

There are several ways of overcoming these problems. The ideal solution is to use a standard way of representing engineering information in a form that is

• computer-sensible - so that it can be exchanged and shared electronically
• neutral - i.e. independent of commercial hardware or software
• international - rather than company, vendor, de facto or national

With this "common language" you can exchange and share high quality information between organisations and across the lifecycle.

E&OE. Copyright © 2001 European Process Industries STEP Technical Liaison Executive

Last modified: 2000-07-02