GE Intelligent Platform solution helps manufacturing IT organizations manage changes in the mission-critical software that controls their processes.

Renee Robbins

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Many companies are faced with increasing safety, reliability and regulatory compliance requirements, yet manufacturing IT organizations often lack the tools to adequately manage changes in the mission-critical software that controls their processes.

"All too often, changes are made by unauthorized users, without the benefit of an audit trail, or plants suffer additional downtime during backup recovery when the wrong software version is loaded," says Claire Cerrato, general manager of automation software for GE Intelligent Platforms. "Beyond the added costs, real safety and product quality situations can arise when interlocks are bypassed or older parameters are used."

SmartStart for Proficy Change Management addresses these problems by combining GE Intelligent Platform's full-featured change management software with a rapid engagement model to quickly automate and improve change management processes.

Proficy Change Management software helps organizations assess, monitor, manage, control, and lower project and maintenance costs associated with software and device management. In addition, by providing traceability and notification of changes, it drives increased efficiency of personnel, and as a result, productivity.

SmartStart delivers functionality in a low-risk, extremely rapid manner by using a proven, template- based approach to implementing automated change management in plant systems.

Functions of the combined solution include the following:
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"With SmartStart , users can fully understand and evaluate the power of Proficy for 30 days with minimal upfront cost or risk of customization," says Cerrato. "Throughout the evaluation, companies invest only in the services that help get them started, and receive the latest software licenses at no cost for the duration of the evaluation period. SmartStart for Proficy Change Management leverages proven products and best practices, and combines the right blend of solution components for a specific industry application or process. It gives manufacturers an easy way to get started and allows for future expansion for true operational excellence."

SmartStart includes access to the right mix of Proficy software components; a fixed set of services to install the system, train teams, and support the evaluation; a structured engagement model that leverages best practices; availability of an entry-priced server module and pre-loaded, pre-configured server package; and access to GlobalCare technical support.

Separately, GE Intelligent Platforms launched its industrial gateway server 7.5 for data acquisition, visualization and control with Proficy software. Industrial Gateway Server (IGS) 7.5 drivers for the company's Proficy software use Kepware KEPServerEX technology and includes more than 100 protocols. The software lets users consolidate information from different control hardware and instruments to visualize, control, analyze and optimize processes via connected Proficy HMI/SCADA, MES, EMI or Workflow software. It is designed to use the maximum possible speed supported by the devices, and has built-in diagnostics for communication errors and complete browsing functionality into devices.

See also:
GE Energy standardizes on remote monitoring, diagnostics software
GE Intelligent Platforms' remote monitoring and diagnostic platform has been adopted at the GE Energy Performance & Reliability Center. It monitors more than 1,100 units in a turbine fleet, and provides real-time data on impending failures and performance diagnostics.

- Edited by Renee Robbins, senior editor
Control Engineering News Desk
Get more manufacturing IT news from Control Engineering , including information technology solutions for enterprise planning and management of supply chain strategies and manufacturing operations.