Enterprise asset management system increases equipment uptime 15%

Implementing an enterprise asset management system has yielded a 15% increase in equipment uptime for a Michigan pigment manufacturing plant.

By Staff April 1, 1999

Implementing an enterprise asset management system has yielded a 15% increase in equipment uptime for a Michigan pigment manufacturing plant. The installation, now in operation for more than 2 yr, is the second in a series planned by the company as part of a worldwide software deployment plan.

Sun Chemical, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-quality printing inks and organic pigments, plans to complete the installation of the EAM systems at all its manufacturing facilities by year 2000. The software being used is Protean and Avantis.Pro from Marcam Solutions, Newton, MA. According to Engineering Manager Dave Ernvall, the systems are helping the plants manage plant capacity expansion, monitoring everything from production uptime and inventory to equipment upgrades to ISO 9000 regulatory compliance issues.

The software solutions each use object-oriented technology. Protean, an open, client/server package for process industries, has a robust architecture that lets users change or customize applications with evolving requirements without rewriting software code. Its advanced functionality, which works with most leading platforms and operating systems including HP-9000 and Windows NT, lets the company manage logistics, production, financials, and maintenance.

The Avantis program, which performs maintenance management and procurement functionality to optimize capital investments, is expressly designed for facilities management in capital-intensive industries. Available for client/server or AS/400 platforms, the solution is used in both stand-alone configurations and as an integrated component of other application software suites. Objects within the applications can be seamlessly integrated with leading solutions for workflow, financials, document management, and imaging.

Marcam Solutions, Inc., is located at 95 Wells Ave., Newton, MA 02459; 617-965-0220; fax: 617-965-7273. For more information, check out its web sites: www.marcam.com and www.avantis.marcam.com or circle 201 on card.