InterPlan Systems News

InterPlan Systems to Discuss Standardizing and Improving Best Practices in Estimating and Planning at Annual NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference

Bernard Ertl to Discuss Problems and Solutions for Standardizing and Improving Best Practices in Estimating and Planning.

HOUSTON, TX, February 7, 2007 – InterPlan Systems Inc., announced today that Bernard Ertl, InterPlan vice president, will speak at the 2007 National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) Reliability and Maintenance Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday, May 23 at 10am in Houston, Texas.

Titled “Standardizing and Improving Best Practices in Estimating and Planning,” the presentation explore research on inconsistent planning quality, problems inherent in the manual or static template based approach to capturing and improving best practices and solutions to some of the common problems.

“At InterPlan Systems, we’ve been able to study the workflow processes for estimating and planning turnarounds for several decades,” said Ertl. “ This has led to insights into the common problems and potential solutions to improving the processes for data capturing, distributing corporate know how and reducing the potential for errors to ensure that customers achieve the level of success that they have come to expect from us.”

Those attending the presentation at the NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference and Exhibition will learn about:

  • Research on inconsistent planning quality
  • Problems inherent in manual and template based approaches to planning with regards to standardization and improving best practices
  • Solutions to some of commonly identified problems

Please visit http://www.npra.org/forms/meeting/MeetingFormPublic/view?id=604B00000024 for more information or to register for the NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference and Exhibition.

About InterPlan Systems Inc.
InterPlan Systems started out as a turnaround management consulting outfit in 1977. Since then, InterPlan Systems has developed several leading estimating, planning and project management software solutions specific to the oil refining and petrochemical processing industries.

For more information, visit www.interplansystems.com or call +1.800.487.8589/+1.281.482.7126.

Updated eTaskMaker Help Files and Manuals are Available

The help files for eTaskMaker (both Wizard and Module Editor) have been updated. The Wizard file update includes descriptions for all export options that have been added since the last documentation update. The Module Editor update includes new information pertinent to revising existing modules. eTaskMaker clients may now download the updates from our downloads repository.

Clients may also order updated versions of the manuals in print format for a nominal fee of $15 plus shipping and handling. Contact us for details on ordering.

eTaskMaker Module Updates for February

InterPlan Systems has released the following updated eTaskMaker estimating modules:

  • Block Valves – Bolted (Rev. 11) – (updated) Updated estimating formula for valve removal.
  • Block Valve – Welded (Rev. 11) – (updated) Updated estimating formula for valve removal.
  • Flanges (Rev. 3) – (updated) Improved schedule logic for tasks.
  • Heat Exchanger – Fixed Tube Sheet (Rev. 7) – (updated) Revised estimates for eddy current testing.
  • Heat Exchanger – Floating Head (Rev. 9) – (updated) Revised estimates for eddy current testing.
  • Heat Exchanger – Reboiler (Rev. 5) – (updated) Revised estimates for eddy current testing.
  • Heat Exchanger – U-Tube (Rev. 11) – (updated) Revised estimates for eddy current testing.
  • Heat Exchanger – Vertical (Rev. 8) – (updated) Revised estimates for eddy current testing.
  • Pipe Rack Fabrication & Erection – (new) For carbon steel pipe.

eTaskMaker clients may now download the updates from our downloads repository.

InterPlan Systems Launches eTaskMaker® and SAP® R/3 Integration

Houston, TX, February 7, 2007 — InterPlan Systems today announced a new integration between their eTaskMaker project planning software and SAP R/3 (PM module). Available as a SAP BAPI application, the integration offers SAP PM users a practical means to standardizing and improving best practices in estimating, planning and scheduling facility maintenance projects.

eTaskMaker is a leading industry solution for estimating, planning and scheduling shutdown/turnaround projects. It is composed of two parts – one that captures best practices in planning and estimating in a unique knowledge base and another that generates tailored resource loaded schedule fragnets from the knowledge base, based upon planner supplied parameters, for export to leading project management systems.

SAP R/3 is an industry leading enterprise resource planning application. SAP R/3’s PM module functions as a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and is used to plan and schedule ongoing, daily facility maintenance.

The new eTaskMaker and SAP R/3 integrated solution allows planners to estimate and plan facility maintenance work in eTaskMaker and seamlessly export the plans into SAP R/3’s PM module. Exported plans include resource requirements and scheduling logic – saving planners the time and burden of navigating SAP PM’s scheduling interface.

“SAP PM clients, like oil refineries, chemical and power generation plants, and pulp and paper mills, realize the benefits of SAP’s integrated approach to organizing and managing their business, including daily facility maintenance. Our eTaskMaker integration expands the benefits of standardized estimating and planning according to corporate best practices from the turnaround maintenance business, which is typically separate from the daily maintenance function, to the whole maintenance organization.” said Bernard Ertl, Vice President of InterPlan Systems. “SAP PM clients can now leverage cutting edge technology for greater efficiencies and quality, affording them a significant competitive advantage.”

About SAP AG
SAP is the largest software company in Europe and the third largest in the world. The company offers an industry leading enterprise resource planning application to help companies organize, manage and improve their business processes.

About InterPlan Systems Inc.
InterPlan Systems started out as a turnaround management consulting outfit in 1977. Since then, InterPlan Systems has developed several leading estimating, planning and project management software solutions specific to the oil refining and petrochemical processing industries.

For more information, visit www.interplansystems.com or call +1.800.487.8589/+1.281.482.7126.

eTaskMaker is a trademark of InterPlan Systems Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

S. C. Petrom S.A. Rolls Out InterPlan Systems’ Project Planning Solution Across All Refineries

Houston, TX — Oct. 9, 2006 – InterPlan Systems Inc., today announced that Petrom, the largest Romanian oil and gas company, is deploying InterPlan Systems’ eTaskMaker project planning software across all of its refineries. The rollout will provide the technology framework to create standard processes for estimating, planning and scheduling all maintenance projects across the organization.

Petrom had previously used a variety of business processes for planning project work, including manual, non-computerized efforts. However, the company has committed itself to enforcing standardized business processes in order to improve best practices and its competitive edge. Overhauling planning and estimating processes was considered crucial to the success of this initiative, and after evaluating solutions from several leading vendors, Petrom opted for InterPlan Systems’ powerful planning tools.

“Organizations like Petrom have positioned themselves for success by seeking out leading edge technology that enables their workforce to work smarter,” said Bernard Ertl, Vice President of InterPlan Systems. “InterPlan looks forward to helping Petrom achieve improved standardization and best practices that will contribute to real competitive gains.”

The rollout is being handled by Petrom’s own internal group, with training assistance from ECC/STOP Management B.V., an InterPlan Systems’ alliance partner serving the European market.

About S. C. Petrom S.A.
Petrom is the largest Romanian oil and gas group, with activities in the business segments of Exploration and Production, Refining and Petrochemicals, as well as Marketing. Petrom has estimated oil and gas reserves of 1 billion boe, a refining capacity of 8 million metric tons per year and 553 filling stations.

About ECC/STOP Management B.V.
ECC/STOP Management has over 15 years of experience managing engineering, construction and commissioning in the refining and petrochemical industries. They are an InterPlan Systems’ Alliance Partner supporting InterPlan Systems’ solutions with training and consulting services in Europe.

About InterPlan Systems Inc.
InterPlan Systems started out as a turnaround management consulting outfit in 1977. Since then, InterPlan Systems has developed several leading estimating, planning and project management software solutions specific to the oil refining and petrochemical processing industries.
For more information, visit www.interplansystems.com or call +1.800.487.8589/+1.281.482.7126.

Standardizing and Improving Best Practices in Estimating and Planning Presentation

InterPlan Systems thanks the folks at IDCON for inviting us to speak at the 20th annual Pulp and Paper, Reliability & Maintenance Conference and Exhibit. Our presentation on Standardizing and Improving Best Practices in Estimating and Planning sparked some interesting discussion among the attendees. We look forward to continuing the dialog with planners and managers in the industry at future conferences.

eTaskMaker Module Updates for October

InterPlan Systems has released the following updated eTaskMaker estimating modules:

  • Battery Limit Blinds (Rev. 1) – (updated) Added tasks to inventory, inspect and fabricate blinds to fill any shortages.
  • Blind Installation (Rev. 5) – (updated) Added task for removing insulation on a flange.
  • Vessels – Glass Lined – (new) For minor repairs to glass linings in vessels.
  • Vessel Cladding Overlay (Automatic) – (new) For cladding a vessel with automatic welding equipment.
  • Exchanger Bundle Cleaning in Mobile Tank – (new) For bundles cleaned with National Heat Exchange Cleaning Corporation which employs a mobile enclosed cleaning tank that circulates cleaning chemicals to clean both the inside and the outside of the bundle tubes simultaneously.
  • Heat Exchangers – Floating Head (Rev. 8) – (updated) Added a scenario for cleaning the bundle in an enclosed mobile bundle cleaning machine.

In addition to the above mentioned modules, almost every plant maintenance module has been updated to include different estimating factors for union versus non-union labor. We highly recommend using the latest modules.

eTaskMaker clients may now download the updates from our downloads repository.

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