A very interesting press release from ABB--
ABB releases Asset Master: A new comprehensive field device management and optimization solution
Asset Master expands on traditional configuration tools with asset optimization functionality
WARMINSTER, PA June 18, 2007 --
The key to business growth for industrial companies is improving asset performance, duration of operation, and uptime. ABB understands this and is pleased to announce the release of Asset Master, a new software solution that helps our customers to meet these objectives, as well as providing traditional set-up tools for instrumentation configuration and calibration.
Eric Olson, Asset Master Product Manager explains: "Asset Master is the first desktop device management and optimization solution that reduces the complexity of these solutions from larger control systems into a compact, easy to comprehend interface. Asset Master can manage up to 500 ABB and non-ABB devices, depending on the fieldbus configuration. Devices can include flowmeters, analyzers, actuators, control valves, and positioners--typical instrumentation that can be wired to a fieldbus.
"Our customers can now enjoy control system class device management and optimization benefits in a small package. Intended for engineering and maintenance personnel, Asset Master supports ABB and 3rd party devices communicating via HART, PROFIBUS, and FOUNDATION FIELDBUS. As a comprehensive asset optimization tool, it provides online monitoring and tuning, online and offline device configuration, parameter adjustment, diagnostic alerts, asset monitoring, calibration management, and integral work order processing."
Bob Hausler, VP Marketing added: "One of the key things that differentiates ABB in this product area is the bottom-to-top consistency of engineering and operator interface. Asset Master is literally built from the same software as our 800xA control system, meaning that configuration screens, asset alerts, and operations methods are identical in both. It also means that an Asset Master installation can be easily expanded into an 800xA control system without the need to re-engineer any existing configurations. Asset Master is another important element of ABB's strategy to make HMI"s simple and consistent, reducing the customer's cost of ownership, especially in the maintenance and training dimensions."
Asset Master's device management solutions result in improved engineering efficiency, reduced time to repair, and optimized plant availability and performance, ultimately leading to continuous productivity improvements. Asset Master leverages the power of industry standard fieldbuses and intelligent field devices. It lowers lifecycle costs through significant cost savings in the design, implementation, and maintenance of field equipment.
A summary of the primary functions of Asset Master:
Configuration - Integrated fieldbus management tools support engineers throughout the planning phase of a project. It uses a comprehensive device integration library for easy configuration and DTM's (Device Type Managers) to make device parameterization simple and intuitive.
Commissioning - Fieldbus management tool features support commissioning and installation of the fieldbus networks and devices. Bus timing and schedule are generated automatically.
Diagnostics - User is informed of degrading performance through Asset Master's Alarm and Events features. Detailed device status information includes probable cause and suggested corrective actions.
Real-Time Asset Optimization - Key plant personnel automatically notified of alarms via mobile telephones, email accounts, and pagers. Fault tracking capabilities help to find the cause of the malfunction. Fault can be automatically transmitted to a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to initiate the work order process.
