Addresses requirement for utility markets, according to MRO Software
Washington DC — July 21, 2003 — MRO Software, a provider of strategic asset management solutions, today announced the availability of a utility industry solution for the transmission and distribution market delivered on the MAXIMO 5 platform.
The MAXIMO Transmission and Distribution solution is part of MRO Software's Industry Solution program. As part of the program, MRO Software is delivering solutions that consist of extensions to MAXIMO, integrations to partner solutions and licensed best practices.
According to the provider, the MAXIMO industry solution for Transmission & Distribution is addresses requirements for the utility markets, including Compatible Units Estimating (CUE), Enhanced Planning & Scheduling capabilities, Integration to multiple Geographic Information Systems (GIS), standards-based integration to Real-time Performance Management systems and integration to mobile workforce management solutions.
Designed in conjunction with IBM's energy and utilities business consultants, clients and other subject matter experts, this vertical solution combines functionality with implementation experience for water, gas and electric utilities looking to optimize distribution operations, MRO Software said.
The new solution will be delivered on MRO Software's MAXIMO 5 platform.
MRO Software said there is an emerging "back-to-basics" trend as utilities refocus their efforts to improve asset performance related to operational excellence and business needs in an ever-changing regulatory environment. Hydro One in Toronto, Canada, is an example of one company striving to become a leading asset management utility. Hydro One Networks has one of the largest transmission and distribution systems in North America serving 1.2 million customers throughout Ontario. MAXIMO was selected to meet Hydro One Network's work and asset management needs.
"At Hydro One we identified four key elements required to effectively optimize the balance between fiscal performance, operating performance and risk. These include understanding and knowledge of the asset base, robust risk decision making processes, the ability to deliver and a change culture," said Hitesh Seth, chief information officer, Hydro One. "MAXIMO's IT architecture supports these elements."
MAXIMO interfaces with activeG software to provide geographic information needed to manage transmission and distribution assets. The product suite provides a GIS spatial data warehouse for integrated mapping of business applications for all of the leading GIS vendors.
"As assets are replaced, activeG automatically adjusts our MAXIMO Location Hierarchy so that the new assets may be tracked while retaining historical data of the old assets," said Scott Phillips, Distribution Maximo team leader at Oncor, a TXU Co. "This combination has allowed our company to track the maintenance, along with costs, of specific assets within our GIS system, which we were never able to track before."
