GE Intelligent Platforms has been selected by Qatar Steel to provide a complete production management solution designed to improve operating efficiency, under a $2 million contract.

The contract features GE’s award-winning suite of Proficy software including Plant Applications, Historian, iFIX and Portal rolled out in a phased format led by a significant pilot project.

The Proficy software solution covers design and implementation for data collection from multiple systems including material storage, handling and control, direct reduction furnaces, electric arc furnaces, ladle furnaces, continuous casting machines, bar rolling mills, the plant’s Quality Control Centre and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

“This new solution will enable Qatar Steel to better monitor and control material flow, production processes, equipment performance, operator activities, and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at various levels of the organisation,” said Erik Udstuen, vice president of Software andServices for GE Intelligent Platforms.

“It will also be able to aggregate data for top management reporting and decision-making.”

The Middle East is expected to produce more than 60 million tons of raw steel by 2010 and Qatar Steel will be a forerunner in this production. The company is regarded as an innovator and has been instrumental in the development of the region since 1978 when production began.

“The GE team engaged us well and has taken the time to understand our requirements and made every effort to demonstrate the capabilities of their technology to meet our demands in Qatar,” added Sheikh Nasser Al Tani, managing director of Qatar Steel.

The extensive pilot project tackled the plant’s biggest problem area - tracking and optimising the raw material input to the plant.

The pilot project took two months to develop and install. The implementation of the Proficy Software solution is expected to be complete in 14 months.-TradeArabia News Service