From Daratech: Bayer finds ways to share information

Bayer Corp. engineering services VP Kirk M. Wilson knows the four stages of project team panic:

• It's not in my e-mail.
  
• I can't find on my drive.
  
• I can't find on my shared drive.
  
• Nobody on project team remembers what we decided to do.

It is not surprising that Wilson has seen this happen. Bayer's US subsidiary is a giant, with more than 50 operating locations that produce about 10,000 products.

In addition to juggling multiple expansion and grassroots projects, Bayer acquires and divests businesses.

Wilson believes Web-based data sharing can offer a secure method for documenting, storing, and sharing engineering data between owner/operating, EPCs, and other business partners—if managed properly.

"The Web can cut the time needed to get projects up and running, but it requires lots of up-front discussion before implementing it."

This starts with software alignment. Bayer's corporate engineering group marshals an imposing array of engineering software. Its plant operators use a similar but somewhat different set of applications. Acquired plants, vendors, and contracts may use something entirely different.

No matter where the data originates, it must prove usable by plant operators for the next 20-25 years.

Managing data is problematic. Bayer is awash with data. The issue is often "data-induced memory loss caused by data overload," says Wilson. "Large organizations have problems remembering what we've done and who has seen what."

Part of the solution lies in integrated, system-independent engineering software that integrates existing plant data into a lifecycle model.

Bayer also wants user-friendly engineering applications that are readily understood by both professionals who use them and managers who are less technically proficient.

When sharing data, Wilson finds no one approach fits all. Examples:

Working with a large EPC. When working on projects with a large engineering firm, Bayer grants its EPC Internet access to its Documentum servers. A security system matches certificates, which grant certain document rights, to suppliers. This gives EPCs access though the corporate firewall to folders and virtual supply manuals while maintaining security.

Acquisition. Bayer wants to exchange documents with a recently acquired company without opening its entire system to the new acquisition. It uses Documentum 4i Version to manage the documents.

It also creates what it calls a demilitarized zone (DMZ) to hold file cabinets that replicate the files Bayer wishes to share from its corporate data warehouse. It then migrates changed documents back within the corporate firewall.

Smaller service companies. The company recently made a deal with a smaller technical service company. Bayer provides access through thin clients, small applications that operate through its partner's Web browser. Bayer is responsible for keeping the software up to date, and controls both the network and the access. Wilson says the company has used the approach in Germany with great success.