New Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Software

The new, easy-to-use, 4Sight calibration and maintenance software from the Sensing business of GE Energy’s Measurement & Control Solutions (USA) is a scalable solution for single user or multi-site businesses. It can streamline maintenance workflow by improving data integrity, optimising work schedules, automating calibration and maintenance and correcting instrument deviations. Using web-based technology, the new software will help to achieve regulatory compliance and safety and can provide 25 to 40% reductions in maintenance costs in the industrial, petrochemical, chemical, process and oil and gas sectors.

As Mike Shelton, product manager for 4Sight, explains, “Most software has to be installed on a user PC, even for server-based installations. This means that the server database and PC applications have to be installed and periodically up-graded and synchronised by IT teams at significant expense and inconvenience. With this new, web-based technology, an end user can browse the internet to access the software and all maintenance and support is provided by GE. Even with a single user installation, maintenance and upgrading is greatly simplified.”

4Sight software can help companies meet regulatory compliance by providing continuous availability of records and data for audit to recognised quality systems. It can also interface with high-end computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS) to provide a seamless, automated workflow from the initial issue of a work order to the final notification on completion of the job, providing all the data for audit review and the tools for resource management and efficiency improvement. These tools include: Interval Analysis, which enables users to report quickly on device performance by scientifically analysing historical data and drift to allow informed and qualified calibration interval recommendations to be made; Performance Management, providing key performance indicators (KPIs) in real time; and Visual Deviation Management to ensure that calibration failure notifications are sent in a timely and controlled manner so that deviations are investigated and resolved as quickly as possible.

The new software complements GE’s mobile and laboratory calibration and maintenance solutions. When operated with GE’s DPI620 multi-functional, portable calibrator/communicator, 4Sight offers mobile, paperless maintenance with a calibrator of class-leading accuracy and advanced features such as integral HART communication, a full plant database and Windows CE providing PDA capability. The DPI620 gives total independence to field engineers and WiFi connectivity allows global mobility without compromising data exchange. The software’s comprehensive filtering and assigned user rights allow a single system to be used over multiple sites, where supervisors and technicians see only information relating to their site. Senior managers can view and compare performance over all sites from a centralised database.

4Sight calibration and maintenance software is available as a single user basic package and a multi-site, server-based platform, with add-on modules such as E-signatures and audit trail to comply with specific FDA regulations. GE can also provide services for installation, training and support, database migration and integration with higher level CMMS.