This information is provided for businesses that are interested in upgrading their operations with functional management systems. Many 'off-the-shelf' software programs are presently available for managing functional department activities such as preventive maintenance and metrology. Aside from automating the recall of scheduled work activities, these systems often provide a central location for managing a variety of functional activities such as:

• Field component information (location, owner, unique ID, manufacturer, model, serial).
• Spare parts/materials inventories.
• Supplier information.
• Tracking/statistical analysis of labor and work assignments.
• Technical information.
• Historical records.

Additionally, facility monitoring systems are a valuable tool for centralizing the management of plant utilities and environmental systems. A central system that continuously collects performance data across the entire facility can provide a comprehensive historical record of plant performance. A centralized system may also provide advance warning of any utility service or production environment performing out of the desired operational tolerance.

Automated functional management systems often consist of a standalone PC. Some systems are integrated into a company's intranet to facilitate data sharing. A variety of different business conditions often preclude the implementation of a functional management system tool, including:

Validation Requirements - For our clients working in regulated industries, the performance of these systems must be rigorously tested and validated. We offer services to assist in this matter. For clients working in non-regulated industries, validation is relegated to a good business practice and may be performed at the level of detail needed to mitigate any risk associated with the system.

Lack of Experience - Historically, many small companies use manual methods for managing their functional areas and may not be fully aware of the many benefits of an automated system. Ultimately, company growth becomes the main driver for transitioning to automated sytems. We help companies with limited experience design and implement the best system for their needs.

Lack of Manpower - Large or small, the vast majority of companies operate with a lean labor component. We supplement our client's staff by providing a source of expertise to fully undertake the design and implementation of a new functional management system.

Lack of Capital Funding - Except in the rarest of circumstances, this is generally not the underlying reason for implementing an automated functional management system. However, it is often a convenient excuse. The major project costs are related to the labor needed to implement the sytem (populating the database, tagging field components, preparing SOPs, training, validation, etc.) rather than the actual capital cost of software and computer hardware.