The ability to access accurate information is essential for making informed decisions within the world of industrial operations. In this blog, I'll outline how Octave InConcert (formerly HxGN SDx2), when integrated with Intergraph Smart Design Solutions, centralizes the most up-to-date and accurate information within organizations. I'll also explore how collating this data enhances maintenance and operational processes, improves collaboration and streamlines workflows for engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance teams.
Advancing integration: the role of InConcert
Octave's digital backbone, made possible by InConcert, serves as a central platform for smooth data sharing between InConcert's core applications, third-party vendor systems and customer-developed tools. This robust integration allows diverse teams (e.g., engineering, procurement, materials management, logistics, maintenance) to collaborate efficiently and respond more swiftly to changes or urgent requirements.
These diverse disciplines come together in a unified ecosystem, where organizations can streamline workflows and eliminate information silos that hinder progress. This integrated environment enhances operational efficiency and enables all stakeholders – internal and external – seamless access to accurate, real-time information, supporting more informed decision-making.
Enhancing collaboration with Intergraph Smart Design Solutions
Intergraph Smart Design Solutions are reshaping the landscape of information exchange across multiple engineering disciplines, delivering near real-time collaboration via intuitive digital workflows. These Solutions, which include Facets P&ID (formerly Intergraph Smart P&ID), Facets Instrumentation (formerly Intergraph Smart Instrumentation) and Facets Electrical (formerly Intergraph Smart Electrical), continuously share information, documents and drawings directly with the digital backbone.
Previously, users had to manually share information. Now, while manual sharing remains an option, the new integration processes are highly automated and continuous. This accelerates communication across disciplines, reducing schedules and minimizing churn.
InConcert introduced a leaner database architecture, upgrading automation, optimizing performance and reducing manual input errors. The user interface has also been redesigned to be even more user-friendly, simplifying the processes of searching, managing changes and producing comprehensive work packages. This synergy improves users' experiences and facilitates faster onboarding for new users, enabling teams to adapt quicker to evolving project demands. These enhanced core functions help organizations foster a culture of continuous improvement and agility to remain competitive in rapidly changing markets.
Maintenance and operations use case
In an active facility, a process technician may need to inspect inline devices within a specific pipe run due to concerns like mechanical wear or corrosion. Traditionally, this requires the labor-intensive task of gathering all relevant drawings, reports and datasheets – a time-consuming process prone to error.
With Facets P&ID, the technician can generate detailed reports and drawings focused on devices relevant to the maintenance activity, enhancing preparation efficiency. For instance, Facets P&ID enables users to filter content by various device attributes (e.g., class, naming conventions, pressure ratings, temperature limits, motor horsepower), providing a level of specificity unattainable with legacy methods (see Figure 1). This tailored output directly supports maintenance tasks by delivering precise, customized information, saving time and improving the accuracy of inspections and repairs.
InConcert gives technicians access to these filtered reports and drawings without needing direct access to Facets P&ID. This more streamlined workflow enhances productivity, while the ability to access real-time information from any device (e.g., desktop, tablet, mobile) allows technicians to make quick, more informed decisions onsite, boosting accuracy and reducing operational downtime.
Design and engineering use case
Long before P&ID drawings are formally issued for design or construction, information within them becomes relevant for adjoining engineering disciplines – even as the data remains in flux. Facets P&ID shares data and drawings through the digital backbone, enabling key information (e.g., equipment list, piping line list, instrument tags, electrical consumers) to flow continuously to other disciplines.
These design parties receive notifications of incoming changes to InConcert via a share dashboard, allowing them to perform comparisons with their own data, documents and drawings more effectively. Given the commonality of compressed project schedules, even approval-level content is highly relevant for other parties involved in project execution.
It's customary for portions of a P&ID drawing to mature at different rates, as process simulation, stream data and associated engineering efforts evolve. Certified vendor information may not always arrive on schedule, delaying the overall issuance of construction-level drawings. With Facets P&ID, individual objects can be assigned a particular data quality, employing multiple status fields to define if a vessel, valve or motor is at a preliminary quality, issued for design, procured, assigned to a system and sub-system, installed or commissioned.
Staff in such roles as review, checking, procurement, materials management and construction logistics will appreciate the capability to pull drawings and reports, even when portions of the drawings aren't fully mature. They'll be better equipped to forecast their own efforts, gaining clarity on what equipment and structures are "ready to go" and which items require further details.
Configurable workflows for document releases
InConcert – when it comes to official document releases – offers configurable workflows to notify various audiences of changes specific to their personas. For instance, a release may only be internal in scope (sometimes called a "squad check"), seeking input only from peers in engineering and design, without releasing the document to a larger audience (including procurement and construction).
The benefits of InConcert and Intergraph Smart Design Solutions
The integration of InConcert with Intergraph Smart Design Solutions optimizes collaboration between engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance teams. The seamless data sharing capabilities, coupled with automated workflows and real-time updates, improve overall efficiency and enable all stakeholders to make quicker, better, more informed decisions. InConcert enhances individual workflows while contributing to a more interconnected and responsive organizational structure. This integration helps organizations improve performance, drive operational excellence and better position themselves for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.
For more information about InConcert and how it can benefit your organization, contact Octave today and visit: InConcert | Octave