Leveraging nearly 16 years of experience implementing plant information solutions, Industrial Network Systems has developed a methodology and approach to plant information projects which results in the most cost effective and shortest calendar time to identify, select, and deploy information technology in a plant environment. In short the highest value – right sized solutions.

Our extensive experience in helping companies succeed with plant information technology projects has helped us identify what makes a project successful. One of the key things we have learned is that to succeed with investments for plant information systems, you need a clear understanding of where you are, where you’re going, and why you’re going there – you need to find a path forward …that’s why we developed PathFinder.

PathFinder leverages your business and operations strategies to help you identify the plant information systems functionality your enterprise needs and then uses that functionality to guide the process of selecting and implementing the right hardware and software components, architectures, and designs. PathFinder is driven by operational value.

PathFinder is a proven process developed by a Ph D. and derived from the best practices of IEEE, GAMP “V”, Six Sigma, and MESA to support our customer’s desire for success. PathFinder has been developed to help our customer’s better leverage plant information with the goals to:

• Drive cost out of their operation
• Increase productivity staff and assets
• Enhance existing and develop new competitive advantages
• Better manage and meet regulatory compliance

The PathFinder process helps our customers find the path forward that’s right for them. Initiatives in the plant information space sound great and promise many benefits but can be overwhelming in their scope and complexity. PathFinder is about sorting through the myriad of possibilities and our helping customers find the highest value - right sized, plant information solutions for their business. PathFinder Takes into account:

• Existing Infrastructure & Standards
  • Business & control system applications
  • Network and database standards
  • Hardware and software platforms
• Ongoing Initiatives
  • Six-sigma / Quality
  • Lean / Process Excellence
  • Maintenance Management / EAM
  • Dashboards, Reporting and Portals
  • Supply Chain / ERP / APS
• Islands of Automation, Applications and Information
  • Home Built Applications that fill information gaps
  • VB applications and Web Applications (.asp)
  • Hand written data logs
  • Excel spreadsheets and Access databases

PathFinder results in a non-biased, product agnostic, road map or path forward. Customers tell us this is an invaluable aid in the identification and selection of the best possible solution, again based on operational value - right sized for their business. When ever possible PathFinder also defines a “phased” or step by step approach to implementing plant information solutions which are often adopted by our customers as a their “game plan” where initial phases help fund subsequent phases. PathFinder can also be very useful in gaining approval for capitol requests that most projects require.

PathFinder results in solutions that are: based on standards, configurable, scalable and maintainable. The PathFinder process is highly recommended for organizations that wish to minimize risk and insure desired outcomes and results are achieved.