Our customer GE&PM relies on the project management software SO3 to significantly increase its communication in projects for plant construction and technical planning as well as visualisation.

Due to GE&PM’s international operations, one challenge is communication in project management. Email communication led to overcrowded inboxes and a lack of overview of current project phases and status reports. Project processes were delayed and there was a negative impact on resources, so improvement was needed. An IT system for project work was sought.

In addition to the desire for a solution for the international communication barrier and confusion about document versions, the new solution was preferably supposed to offer a cloud application and at the same time fulfil the requirement that fed-in data of projects be stored in a secure place. GE&PM also sought a tool that would function as a design database.

In addition to its possible application in process engineering, the VESCON software also provides support in other versatile projects - an added value that was an important factor for the cooperation.

SO3 offers the advantage of working directly with intelligent graphics. While in previous GE&PM projects work was done without the use of professional project management tools, SO3 makes it possible to link intelligent 2D and 3D plant layouts with synchronised lists. This provides a data situation from which important information can directly be derived. In this way, typical questions of everyday project processes can be answered quickly in the simplest way, which would otherwise have to be worked out in a time-consuming manner.

Now GE&PM relies on the help of the VESCON software SO3 from the start of the project to the end of commissioning. Thanks to its flexibility, the tool is applied differently in various project phases. At GE&PM, SO3 is employed wherever electrical components are used and teams works together, especially on an international basis. In process engineering, conveyor technology as well as in workplace equipment. Electrical equipment ordering is also handled with SO3.

Another improvement is the simultaneous work in one tool. As a result, all project participants enter their data independently into the database and are always up to date: For GE&PM's customers, this creates a high degree of transparency in the project status. Few additional coordination phone calls are enough because the same, always up-to-date information is available to the entire development team. Communication runs via the SO3 layout. Comments, questions and information can be exchanged via "post-its" in the SO3 layout.

Alexander Isakov
Product manager SO3
so3@vescon.com

The Material Data Management system developed by VESCON has been used by a large automobile company in southern Germany since the end of 2006. The online solution which today is being used in many plants worldwide supports the management of approval lists for new plants and machines.

VESCON has continuously improved the software and, what is more, tailored it to the specific needs of the customer. Since November 2012, for example, it has been possible to apply this system for managing project structures including factories, projects and orders - down to the level of plants and machinery.

In addition, the connection of the Material Data Manager to the CAD systems (RUPLAN and EPLAN P8) saves the supplier companies the creation of article data. Parts list information that is written back from the CAD systems to the respective project structure significantly facilitates the acceptance processes and the further processing of the data in the target customer system. The result: an efficient software solution which not only saves time but also minimizes possible sources of error.

Services provided by VESCON:

• specification, design and programming of the online application Material Data Manager
• hosting and implementation of application and database (24 x 7 x 365)
• basic administration of the users
• hotline and support
• training

Bernhard Adler
Head of Software Products
Phone +49 6233 6000-640
bernhard.adler@scio-automation.com

For as many as 10 years the office of the Steiermark state government has trusted in the VESCON grant management system for the allocation of grants. Since 2008 the system has been used even state-wide in all departments of the state government. The services provided by the grant management system go far beyond the standard application management functions. In fact, the system includes not only a module for managing the entire budget and a communication module for creating serial letters, but also flexible and efficient evaluation and controlling tools.

What is more, additional interfaces with the state's document management and accounting system allow the seamless integration into the existing IT environment.

VESCON's experts keep developing the grant management system further while tailoring it to the needs of the individual departments. In July 2012, for example, a universal e-government interface was implemented which allows the customer to transfer data from electronic application forms into the grant management system and to integrate new forms independently.

To avoid the double allocation of grants the grant management system is equipped with a contact database including an automatic version management function which assigns a unique ID-number to each contact. So, before allocating a new grant the person in charge can check if grants have already been allocated to a specific contact by any of the other departments or external sponsors.

The result: The VESCON grant management system assists the responsible person during the entire life cycle of a grant allocation process - from the processing of the applications to the payment of the grants up to the accounting and controlling - and thanks to numerous interfaces allows the completely electronic handling of the entire process.

Services provided by VESCON:

• specification, design and programming of the desktop application
• continuous further development of the system
• hotline and support
• training courses

Martin Feichtgraber
Division Head Software Development
Phone +43 3112 36006-400
martin.feichtgraber@vescon.com

Paper is not only patient but also expensive. This is what you learn when comparing the costs for the manual paper-based handling of award procedures with those for the electronic award management. 

Since the beginning of 2012 the Wiener Stadthalle has been relying on the electronic award management solution EVA by VESCON. EVA allows a transparent electronic management of award procedures and supports the customer throughout the entire workflow of an awarding process - from the requisition note to the suitability test and the electronic acceptance of the tender up to the final project report.

In order to comply with the four-eyes principle any processes relevant in the award procedure have to be signed electronically by all parties involved (notifier, budget, purchasing and legal department, management) - depending on the order value.

The correspondence engine integrated in the EVA system generates all kinds of serial letters needed in different types of award procedures and provides interfaces to transfer these letters into document management systems (DMS), e.g. FabaSoft ELAK, where they are stored in an audit-proof manner or forwarded electronically.

The electronic award procedure system has not only significantly accelerated the tender and award processes but also made them more transparent by exactly determining the process sequences.

Thanks to the consistent electronic representation of the award processes it is possible any time to control the processes and identify irregularities almost immediately. Another point in favour of the system is the improvement of the purchasing conditions: Due to the automation of the award procedure the awarding authority reaches a wider range of providers which increases competition and, as a consequence, pushes the purchase prices down.

Services provided by VESCON:

• specification, design and programming of the client/server application EVA
• system adjustment due to changes in the law
• hotline and support
• training courses

Martin Feichtgraber
Division Head Software Development
Phone +43 3112 36006-400
martin.feichtgraber@vescon.com