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PITTSBURGH, PA (October 13, 2003) — Today Emerson Process
Management announced “Enterprise on TAP,” the most comprehensive
enterprise-wide integration solution available to the water and
wastewater industries. Through Enterprise on TAP – an acronym for
Technologies, Assets and Processes – Emerson leverages its broad
portfolio of expertise, technologies and PlantWeb® to develop
a customized solution that enables its water and wastewater customers
to reap the benefits of integrating real-time process and equipment
information with transaction-based enterprise business systems.
The Enterprise on TAP approach can improve the economics of public
utilities by delivering operational flexibility, improved reliability,
increased operating efficiencies, the ability to meet operations
and maintenance budgets, and maintain environmental and regulatory
compliance. “This has never been more important than in this time
of increased accountability,” said Doug Johnson, water/wastewater
business development manager, of the Power & Water Solutions
industry center of Emerson Process Management.
Shifting Tides of Accounting and Accountability
From a technology perspective, Enterprise on TAP provides an integration
path between asset information and governments’ financial systems.
The 1999 passage of Government Accounting Standards Board Statement
No. 34, “Basic Financial Statements – and Management’s Discussion
and Analysis – for State and Local Governments,” brings a major
change in financial reporting requirements for state and local
governments. To comply with GASB No. 34, governments must define
the value of their assets and report depreciation and other expenses.
This, in turn, focuses attention on the management and stewardship
of those assets. And by better managing and being accountable for
its assets, government can be more efficient and, therefore, better
serve its citizens.
The statement is being implemented in phases based on government
revenue. The final phase requires governments with less than $10
million in revenue to implement Statement No. 34 for fiscal years
beginning after June 15, 2003. The rationale for the reporting
change is to not only improve accountability, but to also create
a more informed decision-making process.
Integrating Multiple Information Layers
Enterprise on TAP provides for the seamless integration of three
information layers: process automation, plant management and
enterprise management. To achieve this, Emerson draws from its
broad portfolio – both expert personnel and advanced technologies
– to create an integrated system that is specifically suited
to the needs of the project and organization.
For example, at the process automation and plant management layers,
Emerson delivers asset optimization, process control and management
execution – key components of enterprise information integration
– through its PlantWeb digital plant architecture, which utilizes
intelligent field devices, standards and scalable platforms, and
integrated modular software.
The intelligent field devices give customers immediate access
to vital data from plant analysis and measurement instrumentation
provided by Emerson. This timely access to and control of real-time
information helps assure both process quality and compliance with
environmental regulations. This vital, device-level information
is delivered through one of two control platforms – Emerson’s Ovation® expert
control system or DeltaV™ digital automation system.
A next step toward an integrated enterprise-wide information system
is to tie in predictive maintenance and optimization applications.
A key component of this is Emerson’s AMS™ Suite, which is comprised
of applications that ensure critical equipment assets are properly
operating through application of advanced monitoring and diagnostic
technologies and that resources are optimized for maximum economic
results. AMS Suite consists of the following applications:
-
Intelligent Device Manager for predictive and proactive maintenance
of instruments and valves;
- Machinery Health Manager for predictive
and proactive maintenance and diagnostics of rotating mechanical
equipment; such as blowers,
motors and pumps;
- Equipment Performance Monitor for benchmark
analysis of process and mechanical equipment performance presented
in financial
terms; and
- Real-Time Optimizer for real-time economic optimization throughout
the entire treatment facility.
These applications are enhanced by AMS Suite: Asset Portal, a
fully Web-based decision-support application that aggregates summary-level
information from across the AMS Suite applications.
"AMS Suite is unique in the breadth of production assets
it is designed to support including mechanical equipment, electrical
systems, process equipment, and instruments and valves,” said Stuart
Harris, vice president marketing of the Asset Optimization Division
of Emerson Process Management. “Its analytical and decision support
capabilities will help wastewater facilities meet environmental
mandates and lower overall operation and maintenance costs.”
Next, the Emerson team integrates these systems with the customer’s
other information systems. These may include:
- maintenance management systems, such as those for work management,
purchasing and project management;
- laboratory information
management systems;
- plant design systems, such as those for
electronic document management;
- geographic information systems;
and
- financial information systems, such as those for inventory,
payroll and human resources.
The end result: a single seamless system that gives management
the information it needs to make informed decisions.
"Emerson brings to the table the expertise and technology necessary
to deliver a complete, comprehensive solution capable of integrating
the entire organization,” explained Johnson. “Our ability to
be a single-source provider really sets us apart from other
vendors
and system integrators serving the water and wastewater industries.”
Planning Ahead
In the real world, information systems are upgraded or replaced
as necessity or opportunity dictates. The key is to plan ahead,
according to Johnson.
"Enterprise integration takes place over time. Technological
advancements and open systems now enable organizations to share
information
as never before, and this will only continue,” he explained.
"By integrating process automation, plant management and
enterprise management, Enterprise on TAP provides a seamless window
into the
organization. This capability cannot be underestimated as GASB
34 increases the value that government leaders place on the technologies
that protect and optimize their assets, and in the information
infrastructure that will allow them to demonstrate and report the
financial effects of their management of those assets,” Johnson
concluded.
About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com),
an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate
their production, processing and distribution in the power, water
and wastewater treatment, chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp
and paper, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries.
Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division (www.emersonprocess-powerwater.com),
formerly Westinghouse Process Control, is a global supplier of
advanced
distributed process control and information systems. The Pittsburgh-based
company is a recognized leader in developing plant-wide process
control solutions for the power generation, water treatment and
wastewater treatment industries. Power & Water Solutions plays
a key role in the Emerson mission of combining superior products
and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting,
project management and maintenance services. Emerson brands include:
PlantWeb®;
Ovation®; SmartProcess®; Fisher®; MicroMotion®;
Rosemount®; DeltaV™; and AMS Suite™.
The Liquid Division of Emerson’s Rosemount Analytical division
(www.RAIhome.com), designs and manufactures HART and FOUNDATION
Fieldbus liquid analysis instruments that include analyzers, transmitters
and sensors for the on-line measurement of pH, ORP, conductivity,
dissolved oxygen, chlorine, ozone suspended solids and turbidity.
About Emerson
St. Louis-based Emerson (www.gotoemerson.com)
is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together
to provide innovative solutions to customers in process control;
electronics and telecommunications; industrial automation; heating,
ventilating and air conditioning; and appliance and tools. Sales
in fiscal 2002 were $13.8 billion.
Ovation, SureService, SmartProcess, PlantWeb, Fisher, Micro Motion,
Rosemount, AMS™ Suite and DeltaV are marks of Emerson Process
Management. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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