eSOMS program modules encompass the basic software tools that assist in the management of plant operations. A brief description of the features of the major eSOMS program modules is provided below.

For more in-depth analysis of each module, click on the module name or icon image.

Equipment - provides quick access to equipment data of critical importance to plant operators. In addition to nameplate data and related documents (drawings, procedures, regulatory limits, etc.), current as well as historical equipment operating status and configuration data are provided. Users see not only the current configuration of equipment, but are able to trace its path through the many operational activities (tagouts, operating procedures, rounds, etc.) that lead to its current status.

Configuration Control - designed to automate and track configuration activities associated with plant procedures (alignment checklists and normal operating instructions) and equipment deviation records (temporary mods, operator aids, equipment out-of-service logs, etc.). eSOMS incorporates a "living" model for all phases of the configuration control process that provides operators with information related to equipment configuration control and status based on actual plant conditions, as opposed to static procedures. The system also provides the flexibility to model different equipment and system configuration requirements based on a plant's operational status.

Clearance - designed to assist in implementing, controlling, and executing a plant's tagout/lockout procedure. The system facilitates access and linkage to equipment isolation, work status, and schedule information through interfaces to third-party work control, maintenance management, and scheduling software systems. Tech-Assist pioneered a revolutionary method for tag sharing which has been proven to save a significant amount of manpower resources during both normal plant operation and outages, without compromising personnel or plant safety.

Operator Rounds - a data acquisition and analysis module designed to automate the tasks of collecting, storing, and analyzing equipment operating data from operator rounds. The system provides personnel responsible for plant operation with a powerful yet easy to use tool for collecting and analyzing massive amounts of equipment operating data quickly and efficiently. Operator Rounds puts the power and flexibility of complex calculations, trending, and analysis at the fingertips of operators both at the desktop and in the field where the likelihood of detecting and preventing equipment problems is greatly enhanced, thus maximizing plant reliability.

Action Tracking - designed for those industries where regulatory compliance requirements may directly affect plant operations. The system provides personnel responsible for plant operation and compliance with an easy to use tool to quickly schedule and track required regulatory and/or administrative actions with respect to plant specific limiting conditions for operation. Action Tracking provides the flexibility to integrate a diverse spectrum of compliance requirements such as plant technical specifications, technical requirements manuals, fire protection guidelines, off-site dose calculation manuals, and administrative procedures. The likelihood of missing or incorrectly scheduling required actions with Action Tracking is greatly reduced, thereby preventing costly regulatory fines.

Narrative Logs - an electronic operator log for recording and qualifying events which occur during an individual's shift watch. The system tracks shift staffing, plant operating parameters, log entries and associated qualifying data, and links to shift turnover reports on an individual plant unit and/or staff position basis. In addition to on-demand log entries, Narrative Logs has the capability to accept automatic log entries from other eSOMS modules to automatically document the statusing of procedures, tagouts, operator rounds readings, regulatory action compliance, etc.

Personnel Qualifications & Scheduling - a scheduling tool designed to ensure the adequacy and compliance of plant staffing. The system tracks personnel for man-hours, shift positions, qualifications, and shift details over the entire range of plant operation and shutdown. A natural complement to Narrative Logs, PQ&S has been designed to integrate shift staffing requirements, position qualifications, regulatory work constraints, crew makeup, man-hours on a per person or per shift basis, shift rotation changes (into and out of outages, changes in shift duration, etc.), overtime callouts, vacation scheduling, and a host of other information critical to maintaining a qualified plant staff.

Notice of Change - a change management and messaging tool designed to manage the complete life-cycle of an organization's Notice of Change (NoC) process. NoC entities can be external to eSOMS (Required Readings, SOP's...), or created automatically by modules within the eSOMS suite (Clearance sign-on/off actions, Operator Rounds alerts). Administrative functions allow the preparation, distribution, maintenance, and acknowledgement status reporting of NoC records. An internal messaging service handles the delivery, access, and acknowledgement of NoC records by end-users.

Mobile eSOMS - realizing the data entry burden which such a system could place on plant operators if the processes were to remain paper-based, Mobile eSOMS has been designed to work with state-of-the-art mobile microcomputers. Information captured in the field with mobile computers during equipment configuration activities (for example procedures, tagouts, operator rounds, narrative logs, etc.) is automatically synchronized with the plant status database, eliminating the need to collect information on paper, and then enter it back at the desktop.

Autoprint - to eliminate much of the administrative burden associated with document management issues, the eSOMS AutoPrint module automates the process of creating, transmitting, and tracking critical operations documents from eSOMS to third party electronic document management systems.

System Interfaces - to enable integration of eSOMS with other enterprise data systems, modules are available to manage the exchange of data between eSOMS and industry-leading project scheduling, maintenance management, asset tracking, and data historian software systems.

eSOMS provides the benefits of automation that many organizations have come to realize in today's complex plant operations environment. It is a management tool that can provide total integration of a wide range of operations activities. Use of eSOMS can result in a consistent and organized approach to plant operations, thereby maximizing systems reliability and plant availability.