TAPS® - Turnaround Progressing System

Emerald Associates has created three different software products that use the time saving feature of barcode scanning to eliminate the need for manual data entry when updating Primavera schedules. Each software product has unique features that are designed for specific work environments. The features and requirements of each software product are listed below to allow potential customers to evaluate which product is best suited to their needs.

TAPS - STANDARD VERSION

As plants age there is a greater need to perform maintenance shutdown or turnarounds to maintain their production capacity. To reduce the loss of production revenue, it is imperative that the turnaround be completed quickly.

Presently, turnaround field personnel have to keep notes of activity progress and report the progress to the scheduler. The scheduler then needs to enter the progress into Primavera. This process can be time consuming and error-prone because the scheduler has to find the activity, click through a number of data fields and manually type in progress values.

TAPS - Standard Version simplifies the updating progress process by embedding a bar code into standard Primavera Reporting. Progress can then be quickly and accurately entered into Primavera by scanning the bar code which takes a user directly to the Primavera activitiy to be updated. Progress can then be scanned from another barcode or percent complete (or remaining duration) can be manually entered. This data entry can be completed by field personnel directly into a workstation or can be entered by the scheduling team.

HOW IT WORKS

• A custom report is created in Primavera and printed out at the beginning of each shift. This is typically a 24 or 36 hour lookahead report.
• Turnaround field personnel record progress on scheduled activities and deliver their report to the TAPS user at the end of the shift.
• The TAPS user logs into TAPS and scans the progress on each activity using the barcode scanner and the printed Primavera barcode schedule report.
• The TAPS user interface displays activity details as the activities are scanned.
• Progress is updated in real time when the TAPS user submits the data to the Primavera database.
• The Primavera scheduler verifies the schedule updates in Primavera and creates an updated schedule before releasing to the next work shift.

FEATURES

Taps:

• Is ideal for reporting progress at a designated meeting area with computer access.
• Is easy to install and configure.
• Is easy to use: does not require Primavera training.
• Saves time in entering activity progress updates and reduces the need for trained Primavera schedulers to perform manual data entry.
• Ensures accurate data entry into the Primavera system.
• Security is provided by Primavera through a secure API login.
• User interface displays activity details as the scanning is done.
• Updates Primavera database in real time.

REQUIREMENTS

• Requires one Primavera API license per TAPS data entry user.
• Requires network access to the Primavera database on each workstation.
• Each TAPS workstation requires an individual installation of the software.
• Requires a USB barcode scanner connected to the computer where TAPS is installed.
• Barcode shift reports must be generated from the Primavera system (either through the Primavera report writer or a third party report writer).

Further information may be obtained about TAPS - Standard Version by attending one of Emerald's free webinar presentations presentations. We can help you with your project needs and the about integration, implementation and benefits that TAPS - Standard Version can provide to your company today.

TAPS - MEMORY BARCODE SCANNER VERSION

TAPS - Memory Barcode Scanner Version is an extension of the TAPS - Standard Version that eliminates the need to record notes on activity progress and improves the accuracy of schedule updates. By using a portable USB memory barcode scanner and a Primavera schedule barcode report, planners and turanround field personnel can now record activity progress directly on site without the need to take notes. All progress on activities is scanned into the memory barcode scanner directly. Once a person is finished recording the current progress on activities, they simply have to go to a TAPS workstation, upload the barcode scanner memory to the TAPS software and submit the data. By eliminating the need to take notes, misplaced papers and misread numbers are no longer a problem and the accuracy of reporting is greatly improved.

HOW IT WORKS

• A custom report is created in Primavera and printed out at the beginning of each shift. This is typically a 24 or 36 hour lookahead report.
• Planners and/or construction personnel use a memory barcode scanner to scan progress on scheduled activities while at the work site.
• The memory barcode scanner is delivered to a designated TAPS user at the end of the shift.
• The TAPS user logs into TAPS, plugs in the USB memory scanner, and uploads the memory from the scanner into TAPS.
• Updated activities are displayed in the TAPS interface so that the progress can be reviewed before submitting the data.
• The TAPS user submits the progressed activities and it is updated in real time in the Primavera database.
• The Primavera scheduler verifies the schedule updates in Primavera and creates an updated schedule before releasing to the next work shift.

FEATURES

TAPS Memory Barcode Scanner Version:

• Is ideal for reporting progress directly at a construction site by planners and/or construction personnel.
• Requires no software training to report progress: reporting is done by simply scanning the activities and progress from a printed barcode report.
• Is easy to use: does not require Primavera training.
• Security is provided by Primavera through a secure API login.
• User interface displays activity details when the data is uploaded from the memory barcode scanner.
• Progress is updated in real time when the TAPS user submits the data to the Primavera database.
• Allows one installation of the software to process data from multiple memory barcode scanners.

REQUIREMENTS

• Requires one Primavera API license per TAPS user (not one per scanner).
• Requires network access to the Primavera database on each workstation.
• Each TAPS workstation requires an individual installation of the software.
• Requires a portable memory barcode scanner.
• Barcode shift reports must be generated from the Primavera system (either through the Primavera report writer or a third party report writer).

Further information may be obtained about TAPS - Memory Barcode Scanner Version by attending one of Emerald's free webinar presentations presentations. We can help you with your project needs and the about integration, implementation and benefits that TAPS - Memory Barcode Scanner Version can provide to your company today.

TAPS - WEB VERSION

During turnarounds, field personnel, work planners, and schedulers are often at remote locations and cannot report progress to the scheduling site in time for the schedule to be updated before the next work shift.  Another major problem is generating and distributing schedule reports that are specific to each construction area.

TAPS - Web Version was developed to allow users to tailor the schedule reports to their own needs and submit activity updates from a remote location without the need to install additional software. TAPS - Web Version is installed on a single web server and can be accessed by multiple users through Internet Explorer. Upon logging into the application, users may generate barcode reports and enter progress updates with or without a barcode scanner.

The report generation module allows users to filter the activities that they would like to display on the report. In this way, schedule reports can be customized to display activities that are only relevant to specific work areas. All reports will contain barcodes that correspond to the activities being generated.

Reporting progress may be done by scanning activity progress with a barcode scanner or by entering progress by keyboard entry into a web form. The module also provides users with the option to complete all predecessor start milestones and finish milestones and will also generate an Out Of Sequence report detailing activities that have been thrown out of sequence as a result of the updates. This report will allow the user to update the out of sequence activities, ensuring that turnaround plans and schedules are updated accurately.

HOW IT WORKS

• User logs into TAPS - Web Version using Internet Explorer.
• User creates a set of filters specific to their own work area and generates a barcode schedule report.
• Construction personnel or planners record progress on scheduled activities and deliver the report to the TAPS user at the end of the shift.
• TAPS user logs in and scans the activity progress and/or enters the progress manually into the software.
• Progress is updated in real time when the TAPS user submits the data to the Primavera database.
• The Primavera scheduler (at another location) reviews updates in Primavera and creates a new schedule for the next work shift.

FEATURES

TAPS web version:

• Is ideal for reporting progress at remote locations with internet  (or intranet) access.
• Is accessible from the internet with the same great features as TAPS - Standard Version.
• Runs as a web application that is installed on a single web server.
• Is easy to use: does not require Primavera training.
• Allows custom generation of barcode reports using a set of filters specified by the user.
• Allows filters used for report generation to be saved for future use.
• Has security provided by Primavera through a secure API login.
• Has the option of entering progress by keyboard input into a web form instead of using the barcode scanner.
• Progress is updated in real time when the TAPS user submits the data to the Primavera database.
• Produces an optional out-of-sequence activity report when progress is updated that can be used for additional updating if necessary.

REQUIREMENTS

• Requires one Primavera API license per user.
• Requires a web server to host the web application.
• Requires network access to the Primavera database on the web server.
• Users of the program require a workstation with internet (or intranet) access and Internet Explorer installed.
• For barcode progressing, requires a USB barcode scanner connected to the workstation.

Further information may be obtained about TAPS - Web Version by attending one of Emerald's free webinar presentations presentations. We can help you with your project needs and the about integration, implementation and benefits that TAPS - Web Version can provide to your company today.

Emerald’s Experience

Emerald Associates has implemented TAPS® for a turnaround at a fertilizer plant, which contained over 20 users of the software, as well as at an Oil & Gas plant undergoing a shutdown.

For more information, please review the TAPS brochure.