Newly Released Plant Resource Manager Tool Improves Maintenance Efficiency

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (the Netherlands) today announced the September 7 release of version R3.31 of its Plant Resource Manager PRM software tool for the centralised management of large amounts of data from plant monitoring and control devices as well as manufacturing equipment.

PRM R3.31, an upgrade to R3.30, includes a new function that enables PRM to link with a computerised maintenance management system and a new data display function that enables field maintenance personnel to access data that is useful for locating and responding to device failures. With this latest PRM release, Yokogawa aims to offer customers a solution that enables their maintenance personnel to work more efficiently.

Development Background

Manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve maintenance efficiency by using software tools like PRM that can centrally manage large amounts of maintenance information and other types of data from plant monitoring and control devices as well as manufacturing equipment, and there is a constant need to quickly identify device failures that can interfere with the safe operation of plants. To better meet such needs, Yokogawa has reinforced the functions of PRM.

This latest version of PRM enables the seamless management of the process of detecting and responding to device failures. This has been achieved by linking PRM to a computerised maintenance management system that is used to draw up maintenance plans and manage the progress of maintenance tasks. With this new PRM version, field maintenance personnel can also access key performance indicator (KPI) reports on device availability and other indices that until now have been mainly available for use by management. This facilitates the identification of failure causes so that appropriate countermeasures can be taken.

Enhancements

1. Linking of instrument status information with maintenance work information

The PRM works with Maximo^®, an IBM^® maintenance solution. Upon detection of a device failure, PRM issues an instruction to Maximo to draw up a task plan and begin the process of managing the progress of task execution. With PRM R3.31, a symbol (maintenance mark) is displayed over the device icon in the device navigator window that communicates the current state of the task that is being managed by Maximo. This ensures seamless management of the failure detection and resolution process. PRM R3.31 is compatible with the latest Maximo versions, 7.5 and 7.6.

2. Efficient access to field asset KPI reports

Field asset KPI reports contain data about the availability of instruments, the number of instruments that are in an abnormal state, warning status, other states, and the number of alarms and events and their ranking. Until now, this information has been used mainly by management. With PRM R3.31, maintenance personnel can now directly access field asset KPI reports via the PRM user interface, and this information can be used to detect potential device abnormalities, identify and analyse failures, and consider necessary countermeasures.

3. Compatible with new I/O device

In June 2016, Yokogawa released a new I/O device for the CENTUM^® VP R6.03 integrated production control system that simplifies the task of upgrading from CENTUM CS, CENTUM CS 1000, or CENTUM CS 3000. PRM R3.31 supports this new I/O device. When PRM R3.31 is linked to this I/O device using the HART communications protocol, failures and other device statuses can be quickly identified.

Major Target Markets

Industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, iron and steel, pulp and paper, electric power, and wastewater treatment.

Applications

Plant field device maintenance, plant operations.