IMPLICO AUTOMATION with when you started? A lot! Refineries and tank terminals used to work out the quantities of petroleum products on a calculator. And then manually transfer the figures from one delivery note, invoice and tax form to the next. It was all very time consuming and prone to errors. Everyone involved not only had to determine the correct data but also to accurately convert and update the quantities involved each time the product was moved. Today, with the right software, this happens completely automatically, eliminating potential errors and improving the efficiency of the petroleum logistics processes. So, compared with 25 years ago, when shippers, schedulers and quantity bookkeepers were busy copying figures from tables, these processes now run fully automatically. Could you give us an overview of how this happens? At Implico, we developed OpenTAS QCM to take care of quantity conversion. The name stands for Quantity Conversion Module and it is integrated into our OpenTAS tank terminal administration system, among others. OpenTAS QCM contains all the data from the tables and standards mentioned earlier and calculates the required values automatically. We make sure that the data is always up-to-date and that it includes all international conventions. All that the shipper has to do is enter the type of product and the initial values for each
bulk movement. This avoids the kind of errors that can become very costly in the downstream process. What is special about our solution is that OpenTAS QCM can be integrated into the entire end-to-end petroleum logistics process chain – from the refinery to the end customer. The module communicates with other systems and automatically outputs the correct data – right up to quantity bookkeeping and invoicing in ERP systems such as SAP. Are you saying that OpenTAS QCM is a solution for the entire supply chain? That is indeed what is unique about our OpenTAS QCM. Companies can use the system as a standalone solution to convert individual volumes. We supply a free web-based calculator or an Excel add-in at www.implico.com. The module can also be integrated into SAP ERP systems. To do this, we use a remote function server, which carries out the necessary calculations. It is a particularly attractive option for oil and gas companies working with SAP IS Oil, SAP Secondary Distribution Management for Oil & Gas or SAP Retail Fuel Network Operations. When it comes down to it, however, we can integrate OpenTAS QCM into any other environment, such as other TAS systems or logistics software. Mr. Buhre, many thanks for your time.
Software solutions for automated quantity conversion in the oil and gas industry The Implico Group has specialized in petroleum logistics automation for over 25 years. The company supplies oil and gas companies with a range of solutions for carrying out quantity conversion of their products. These are all based on the OpenTAS QCM module: •OpenTAS: When integrated into Implico’s tank terminal administration system, OpenTAS QCM automates the relevant quantitative data and shares the results with other systems. •SAP integration: OpenTAS QCM can be integrated via Remote Function Call (RFC) into INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
OIL AND GAS, PETROCHEMICAL, AUTOMATION
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