02 March 2015

GEA Assist software facilitates instantaneous and comprehensive project information flow

Submitted by: Colleen Payne

GEA Process Engineering South Africa has introduced GEA-Assist, the Group’s browser-based information sharing programme, to its clients locally. This online information exchange facilitates streamlined access to project information for all approved individuals, regardless of location. Improved plant performance and increased productivity is acquired through tracking maintenance costs, preventing asset failure and extending asset life. 

The programme caters for storage and retrieval of all necessary communication. Project documentation and piping & instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) can be uploaded, as can 3D models, plant layouts and time schedules. Provision for plant operations and maintenance has also been made, in fact, all information pertaining to an entire project, including comprehensive product information, is available to authorised personnel. The service includes email alerts when files are uploaded and queries answered, drastically reducing the number of necessary phone calls and email correspondence. 

Specific categories make the site user-friendly. ‘Document Hosting’ incorporates the most up-to-date plant data, including assets and any current projects, all of which are stored in current status. Online Training grants access to GEAs online training library, including tailor-made video tutorials so training can be done at clients’ convenience. “In addition to this distance training approach,” says Rob Allen, head of Components and After Sales, GEA Process Engineering, “the same training material may be shared through a common client-customised web portal for clients with multinational production facilities.” 

‘Asset Management’ becomes ‘your plant’s DNA’, ultimately reducing overall cost of ownership and increasing productivity through less downtime. It allows clients to keep abreast of all asset changes, from initial installation to recent services, while still operational. “Clients can access their assets’ complete historical profile, which is essential for optimum and efficient scheduling and resource management,” says Allen. 

Budgeting for projected maintenance costs, maintenance and plant performance tracking, and resource planning is made exceptionally easy using the site’s ‘Reports / Analysis’ option. ‘Preventative Maintenance’ allows the creation of well-timed maintenance schedules, which reduce downtime and improve plant reliability. All service documentation aids can be accessed remotely. The ‘Scheduling’ section, using details from the ‘Asset Register’ portion, allows visibility of all upcoming maintenance activities and resources needed to complete these activities.  

The ‘Workflow’ facility is the artery of all system modules enabling instant and easy interaction between all relevant modules. “This service caters for all exchange control of plant asset critical information. These include client requests to the facility management company and call-out requests, for example,” Allen explains. “Tracking of third party enquiries and activities is possible, right through to their completion.” 

A complementary offering to its clients, GEA Assist has been available in Ireland, where the concept was born, since 2012, although currently only available to GEA Process Engineering Division clients. Plans to roll it out group-wide are in the pipeline. “Client take-up has been phenomenal,” says Allen. “There was a definite need for an assistance program of this nature. At the click of a button clients get every single project and service contact listed, along with all respective contact details, and access to concluded project information at all times, are only two benefits – in addition to those already listed.

Since its introduction to local clients in early 2014. GEA Process Engineering has a number of clients across several industries using GEA Assist. These industries include dairy, brewery, home, personal care, juice and beverage and chemical.