17/10/2017
Tankstorage Asia 2017 (27th and 28th Sep 2017 – Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre)
For a very compact event the TankStorage Asia had quite a few surprises and interesting products on display and only after walking around the Trade fair a second time did I really begin to appreciate the volume and quality of promoters and products. Aside from the general major players and product manufacturers on display such as Siemens, Cape, Netzsch, Krohne, Verwater and Wiese for the bulk fuel / oil storage market there were many other interesting products and systems on display and the following is the one that sparked my interest in particular.
DNR Process Solutions (see www.dnrps.com )
This company is a local Singapore Technology Company that was incorporated in 2002 and it specialises in end to end process Automation and Asset Security Solutions. Among their any many products the product that really grabbed my attention is their electronic asset tag that they are marketing for use with their MaxPro and e-rims asset management system. Basically, and aside from explaining the functions and complexity of the computer software behind it, this system works with using a small electronic chipped tag that gets attached (either tied or stuck with 3M adhesives) to the body of a particular asset (see Photo’s 1 and 2 below). The chipped tag is electronically programmed to be scanned by smartphone (similar technology to card scanner and mobile phone pay systems such as Paylah® etc) that identifies the tagged asset and then via the software app loaded onto the smart phone, tablet or via cloud outlines to the maintenance supervisor that particular assets existing maintenance and repair history and of any future maintenance that is planned or needs to be done to it. This is in addition to enabling the field technician to record the current assets condition / performance levels or calibration etc with photos and onsite data records inputted at time of inspection, this is great for facility owners (currently being used extensively by PUB here in Singapore) but what grabbed me is this systems potential for the building Construction and mech / piping etc turn-key or BOO construction contracts.
Photo 1 and 2 - The Asset Tag from DNR Process Systems
Currently this system is being promoted for existing and operating facilities or infrastructure for strategic maintenance but when I thought about it the potential for this basic electronic asset tag and software system to be expanded into the general Construction or building Industry is also limitless. To use an example to explain, I personally have worked in the past on a number of large mechanical / LPG pipeline projects that have had a very large number of items, let’s call them assets (assets which can include pipe spools, valves, rotating / non rotating equipment, steel structures, flanges and pumps etc etc) manufactured offsite that were then delivered for installation and commissioning on site.
I along with my supervisors had the very tedious task of managing the checking and expediting each assets fabrication / assembly off site then delivery, installation and commissioning on site. For those of us who have done this before you will well know (or at least can imagine) the amount of effort and logistics for checking the daily and weekly status of each assets progress from procurement, prefabrication / manufacture off site through to its final installation and commissioning on site can be and often is an extremely arduous, time consuming and tedious task.
Now, considering the above and using DNR’s electronic asset tag system with the MaxPro software you should be able to use the MaxPro system for your Construction Project to physically and effortlessly tag and identify each asset to record each stage of the asset’s progress from manufacture / assembly offsite through to delivery, installation, commissioning, calibration and final operation on site.
Using an android / windows based smartphone or tablet (currently pending Apple licensing with DNR) issued to your (or your subcontractors) supervisors the electronic asset tags can be scanned and the assets status viewed or updated directly by the Supervisor (on a daily / hourly / weekly / monthly) as it progresses through its journey to completion. By simply scanning the tag on site the supervisor will be able to review and update an assets status within MaxPro and record any recently completed or ongoing tasks or activities by adding text, photo’s, reports, certificates etc to the assets electronic history. If another asset is identified in the field by the Supervisor, he may tag the newly identified asset and upload its data / status directly into the MaxPro system, these new assets details can then be vetted or corrected / deleted by management / engineers as or if required. It must be noted that the assets electronic data in MaxPro can be readily exported into excel / word to use to update progress reports and programmes such as Primavera, Suretrack, Project etc depending on the end users requirements. From what I can see the DNR electronic tagging system would not only expedite production / construction on site but may also enable a main contractor (or Client or subcontractor / manufacturer etc) to quickly focus resources or procurement efforts on delayed / critical asset manufacture / construction / commissioning activities to pick up lag or identify additional labour or subcontractor input required. If the above interests you then please contact Mr. Sumanta Datta at DNR Process Solutions on +65 6896 3766 or email [email protected] he will be happy to chat with you more to develop a MaxPro system for your requirements, and don’t forget to mention that you heard this first from us at Adda-TA!
