Portal Vision

Process Systems Portal Vision

Traditionally, process systems have been completely isolated from corporate information. However, today, that is no longer the case. Given the movement of process vendors to open protocols and the advent of enhanced networking technology, process information that was once regulated to only allow access by the control engineering group is now available for integration to plant and corporate level infrastructures.

Now that the physical networks are connected and correctly isolated by firewall technology, Omicron can help create a Vision and Strategy for Portal-based technology adoption that is enhanced with Real-Time process information. The Real-time Enhance Portal can break down the walls of the “Data Silos” that currently exist within your organization. Once in place, there are typically several benefits that include:

Access to Enterprise Systems and Information

Information must be defined and measured the same way across all business units in order to consolidate and compare the data. Data must be captured at every critical point across the company, and key metrics must be identified and monitored. And, of course, the right architecture must be in place to allow the data to be shared across business units, creating efficiencies and new business opportunities.

A Single View of the Truth

A journey to increased visibility and transparency will inevitably encounter the issues of inconsistent data. Many large companies are a jumble of business units and subsidiaries, each with their own autonomous systems. However, no company is immune from the diseases like two views of inventory, or multiple estimates of cash on hand, production plans and results, etc. There is no way to avoid the tough job of rationalizing these inconsistent systems, but it can be made tractable by an incremental approach. Companies successful in this space have narrowed their focus on a few key indicators that matter and either normalizing the data into a single view, or presenting informed users with the inconsistency and tools to deal with it.

Security, Processes and Controls

IT departments will need processes and tools that allow wider access to operational data and systems – but balanced with appropriate controls and safeguards to security and integrity. The use of industry standard technology allows for increased access while also enforcing increased security around data and process.

Visualization and User Customization

Visualization tools, including dashboards or central command posts that use portal software, can pull it all together into a visual view. The more complex the data, the more valuable a graphical representation can be in pinpointing areas that need attention. A major goal of visibility is to get the right information into the hands of people who can make decisions at the Right-Time. The exact data needs vary by employee– and real insight comes from working with the information over time and refining it to meet those individual needs.

The portal can deliver the results from a power set of technologies when they combine access to traditional unstructured documents, semi-structured and structured data with real-time manufacturing data. The combination of all these data types results in portal views that are ‘alive’ and constantly valuable in real-time, not just at the end of the month. Some examples are:

Omicron's Process Portal Vision

Omicron Consulting has developed a unique methodology to create a Process Manufacturing Portal. The goals of the project that results from our methodology are:

• To assist a client in developing a vision for how to best leverage portal technology to blend the information assets of the real-time and traditional IT spaces of a process manufacturer.
• Create a high level requirements matrix to help organize, assign value and prioritize areas and uses of the portal.
• Develop a high level system architecture for the Manufacturing Portal.
• Optionally, build prototype version of the portal to help communicate the vision of the future use of the portal.
• Produce an implementation strategy that blends the best of Omicron’s industry expertise, local existing resources and subject matter experts from our client to deliver the portal in a timely, efficient process. Naturally this includes budgetary estimates for costing and ROI.

Building on Omicron’s past success providing this service to other clients, Omicron can develop your portal vision to define and focus the development of the portal for your organization. This vision can be provided a single site, division or enterprise level problems.

We feel that our approach benefits our client in the following key ways:

• By beginning with visioning, our client will develop a complete and focused picture of the solution area to be developed. This will guide all subsequent business and technical efforts.

• The vision will take into account integration with current and future internal and external data sources and systems.

• The show-ware prototype provides a clear foundation for generating both excitement in the user and management community while allowing for feedback for eventual portal direction and design

• The recommendations and plan for moving forward typically accommodates our client’s needs and priorities for coordinated development between existing efforts and this new portal project.

• The implementation planning discussions will consider time boxing, or how to scale the rollout effort to the deadline constraints that will naturally be part of any fast paced project.