Information-driven process analysis software

Citation

(2004), "Information-driven process analysis software", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 76 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2004.12776aab.017

Information-driven process analysis software

Information-driven process analysis software

Keywords: Software, Analysis, Project management

Commercially available software for information-driven process planning and decision support, conceived and developed in the United Kingdom and designed for large and complex projects, was demonstrated at the recent ProjectWorld exhibition.

Enhancing rather than replacing existing project management software, PlanWeaver from software developer BIW Technologies is described as a powerful process analysis tool. Browser-based, it encourages closer collaboration between teams that may be in several different organisations or global locations.

To support decision-making it enables “what if” simulation and analysis to be undertaken. Most importantly, it is said to reduce risk by revealing potential issues, thus greatly improving the ability to meet project deadlines and stay within budgetary limits. BIW Technologies estimated that using PlanWeaver may lead to total savings of between 0.75 and 1.6 per cent of a project's value.

PlanWeaver may be used on its own or it will integrate with and enhance project management products such as Artemis, Asta, Primavera, Microsoft Project or similar systems. In addition, the software complements change management and business process management (BPM) activities.

“Designed to fill the gap between process modelling and traditional project schedules, PlanWeaver reflects the aims of lean thinking,” said BIW Technologies' Sales Director Steve Cooper. “Wasteful activities and bottlenecks may be identified and removed and productive activities refined and integrated”.

Based on the award-winning Analytical Design Planning Technique (ADePT) and dependency structure matrix (DSM) analysis theory, PlanWeaver differs from the existing project management tools. Through an iterative process, it enables the critical interfaces and information flows between activities to be streamlined in all processes that constitute the project and its related supply chain.

“Users of PlanWeaver are trained to help map out project delivery processes in terms of information flows and dependencies. With the support of the software and through iterative steps, they can then streamline the whole process so that it becomes more efficient, realistic and manageable,” said Steve.

PlanWeaver has already been used with significant results in several major projects. It is not confined to one industry and may be applied wherever large and complex projects or processes are prevalent including automotive, aerospace and defence, construction, civil engineering, petrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Browser-based collaboration

Although it may be purchased for use on a local or wide area network (LAN/WAN) client-server system, BIW Technologies also offers PlanWeaver on an application service provider (ASP) basis. This encourages collaboration between individuals in companies regardless of their location, operating system, hardware or software, by making PlanWeaver accessible via a standard browser.

Details available from: BIW Technologies Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 845 1300 800 (int: +44 (0) 20 7592 8550); E-mail: paul.wilkinson@biwtech.com; Web site: www.biwtech.com