InterPlan News Goes Blogging!

InterPlan News is switching over to a web log (blog) format instead of a monthly email. This format:

• solves the problems with corporate email filters preventing interested parties from accessing our news
• allows greater flexibility in publishing news and announcements in real time
• creates an automatic archive of the news for new “subscribers” to see what they missed

To get the most out of InterPlan News in the future, we suggest you add our RSS feed to your RSS reader (or news aggregator). Free RSS readers / news aggregators are available both on the web or as a desktop application.

Of course, you do not need to have an RSS reader set up to keep up to date with InterPlan News. Just bookmark this page and be sure to visit at least once a month!

Cost Reports Are Now Available for eTaskMaker

One of the biggest questions we get from inquiries regarding our eTaskMaker project planning software is about the generation of cost estimate reports. Since eTaskMaker generates resource loaded schedules, but does not capture or calculate rates and cost information, cost reports need to be generated by a third party application.

Labor rates can be loaded into your project scheduling software (or Microsoft Office Excel) to generate cost reports. However, our clients tell us that generating turnaround cost reports from general purpose project management systems is not an elegant solution.

Announcing the ATC Professional Demo for eTaskMaker Cost Reporting

Effective immediately, all eTaskMaker clients may download an ATC Professional demo from the eTaskMaker software downloads repository. The ATC Professional demo is a scheduling crippled version of the full ATC Professional Shutdown / Turnaround Management System. It does not allow you to save any schedule modifications.

However, the ATC Professional demo allows eTaskMaker clients to capture eTaskMaker generated plans and generate standard ATC Professional scope and estimate reports including:

• Bid Package – Generate worksheets for lump sum contract bid packages highlighting the planned work scope in a worksheet format for contractors to use in preparing their bids
• Work Order Manhour Summary – Offers a summary view of estimated manhours by work order
• Work Order Cost – Detailed cost estimate for individual work orders
• Executive Summary – Seven section cost estimate that breaks down total estimated costs for a turnaround, unit or A.F.E.
• Manhour Breakdown – Analyze manhour totals by a number of sort codes including equipment type, unit/area, AFE and supervisor

2005 NPRA Reliability & Maintenance Conference

The May 24-27, 2005 NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana is fast approaching. InterPlan Systems will be exhibiting in booth 140. We look forward to meeting all the attendees and showing off our estimating, planning, scheduling and management solutions.

eTaskMaker Module Updates for March, 2005

This is the inaugural post to our new InterPlan News Updates Log. Instead of just posting summaries of eTaskMaker module updates in our monthly newsletter (like the one that follows), we will begin chronicling module updates and new releases here with detailed descriptions for individual module updates as they are posted to the eTaskMaker client downloads repository. eTaskMaker clients should check here for the latest news on available module updates.

InterPlan Systems has released a slew of new and updated eTaskMaker estimating modules, including:

• 29 for plant maintenance
• 1 for engineering-construction

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

Most of the updated modules have been significantly enhanced. The enhancements include:

• improved estimating formulas
• expanded scope (more working scenarios)
• greater task detail

This update includes some new modules that have combined several existing modules to simplify maintenance. In particular, the piping fabrication and erection, and the flange replacement/installation modules have all been replaced by a single module that combines most frequently specified metallurgies. Future development and maintenance efforts will focus on the new replacement modules only (ie. modules that have been replaced will no longer be enhanced).

Free eTaskMaker Seminars

InterPlan Systems has scheduled two free, one day seminars on

• Thursday, April 28th
• Thursday, June 23rd

The seminars will show how to use the eTaskMaker Wizard, eTaskMaker Module Editor and cost reports available through the ATC Professional demo.

The seminars will be held at the Houston Business Roundtable’s training facility across from Hobby Airport. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required to guarantee a seat.

InterPlan Systems engages KLG Systel as an Alliance Partner for India

InterPlan Systems announces an alliance partnership with KLG Systel as an authorized dealer for eTaskMaker. KLG Systel is one of the leading distributors of project management solutions in India.

KLG Systel
Contact: Mr. Amandeep Sethi
Tel. +91 9818191725

http://www.klgsystel.com/

InterPlan Systems Taps ECC/STOP Management B.V. to Market and Support ATC Professional and eTaskMaker in Europe

Houston, TX February 8, 2005 — InterPlan Systems Inc. has engaged ECC/STOP Management B.V. as an Alliance Partner to market and support eTaskMaker and ATC Professional solutions in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Because of their field experience, and philosophical alignment on management methodology, ECC/STOP Management is uniquely positioned to offer expert support for InterPlan Systems’ ATC Professional Shutdown / Turnaround Management System and eTaskMaker Project Planning System to industry in Europe.

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.

Contact Information:
ECC/STOP Management B.V.
van Ravesteijn-erf 152
3315 DK Dordrecht
The Netherlands
Tel. 078-6227680