Life Cycle Costing - Software

LCC AM/QM supports the operational, strategic and regulatory tasks in asset management. The basis is a configurable asset register. LCC AM/QM has extensive functions for analysing operating assets and creating asset management plans. The determination of life cycle costs is an integral part of the solution. Inspections, maintenance, repairs and standardised ageing models are mapped for all types of equipment. LCC AM/QM has integrated prioritisation, which is controlled by the condition and importance or risk of the assets. For the development of optimised network development scenarios, the resource-specific simulation is indispensable if one does not want to fall back on group-based, lump-sum estimates. Since LCC AM/QM takes into account all financial aspects of the operating resources, regulatory calculations such as the determination of a revenue path, the rent or even a capitalised earnings value calculation can be carried out and integrated into the simulations. Various configurable graphical analyses and reports tailored to the requirements of the utilities, including cockpits and dashboards, are available in LCC. Our users are particularly impressed by the flexibility and transparency as well as the openness of the application. 

LCC ANT
The tasks in asset management require access to data files in different systems and the merging of these data into a cross-divisional asset data inventory (asset register). LCC ANT is used for data import and acts as a hub for the integration of data from all areas. Rule-based, data-enhancing measures are an integral part of the transformation process. During the data import, differentiated checks of the input data against table-controlled default values and the linking, supplementing and intersection of tables with selection catalogues take place. Data enhancements, such as the determination of unknown years of construction, can be carried out on the basis of freely configurable sets of rules. Condition and risk assessment and the determination of the probability of failure for equipment and facilities are carried out by means of user-specific, expandable assessment models. For example, data on maintenance measures, results of condition recording, load values, cost items, sales and production figures and failures or failure reports can be included in the evaluation and modelling. All evaluation and import settings are saved and reused for subsequent data updates to be carried out at regular intervals.  

configuration packages
The signion division and configuration packages (e.g. "Electricity", "Gas/Water", "Heat", "Regulation") are used for the quick configuration and go-live of the LCC software. A configuration package includes the transfer of the customer data model into the LCC structure, the standard import configuration of the interface to the GIS and the resource data, tools for data enhancements, valuation for all resources, standardised damage rates, a value catalogue with common useful lives, depreciation durations, replacement values and default settings as well as predefined standard reports and analyses for replacement lists and the verification of inventory data as well as for forecast calculations and simulations.  

Qlik

Application modules (apps) created for Asset Management enable the distribution of analysis and reporting results created with LCC throughout the company. Data and results are provided by LCC in Qlik format and can be further processed with Qlik Sense. Qlik Sense indexes all data relationships and takes the entire data stock into account.
This enables e.g. : 
  • the creation of individual views of the result data in the specialist departments,
  • the interactive presentation and evaluation of the source data,
  • the identification of measures based on the condition assessment,
  • the geographical representation of results,
  • the interactive comparison of investment and strategy options,
  • the presentation of key figures and their developments,
  • the preparation and presentation of statistics, key figures and decision-making bases in the form of interactive dashboards.
Signion offers a large portfolio of asset management applications that can be individually adapted to customer requirements and the underlying database. These include, among other things, a quality assessment of the data, a geographical display of the replacement list, a comparison of LCC forecasts through graphics and key figures and an interactive setting of the assessment parameters. The apps can also be directly connected to SAP and other systems, for example, or filled with Excel data. They also enable complex evaluations such as a load curve analysis or an evaluation of SAP orders.

The Qlik Product platform complements the signion solution offer in asset management. Interactive dashboards and the integration of the LCC solution in Qlik create a multitude of new possibilities for network companies. 

Interactive dashboards can be created by the user in only minutes. The Qlik Product platform platform has been connected to the LCC solutions by signion. For the first time, end users can use company data and create their own evaluations without IT or programming knowledge. The evaluations can be displayed and individualised in various forms of diagrams and key figures. In addition, filters can be used to change the display selection at any time.

With the geo-module, network data can be stored in detail on street maps and displayed in a variety of ways. NPrinting allows users to create their own reports and output network data as they wish.

Network statistics

This app is used for the interactive presentation of resource-related data.
On request, the Qlik app can include the following functionalities if the necessary data is available:

  • Cross-divisional, cross-object type approach;
  • Map display of operating resources;
  • Individual filter functionalities. 

In addition to the statistical aspects, the user also has QA possibilities, as inhomogeneous data can be quickly identified. Possible exports from the app round off the results.

Valuation

If the LCC AM/QM project includes an assessment for prioritisation regarding the renewal worthiness of assets, the assessment parameters and results can be clearly presented in this app. This primarily provides the user with answers to the following questions:

  • What does a priority list look like with a current assessment?
  • Why are assets rated and how?
  • In combination with a visual representation: Where in the concessions are assets that are particularly in need of renewal?
  • Which streets contain the equipment most in need of renewal across all sectors? (Form of measure planning)

Valuation check

Based on the currently implemented evaluation structure of operating resources to be considered, the question often arises as to how changes in this structure could affect operating resources and thus a priority list. The evaluation check app provides an interactive answer to this question. The following functionalities are in the foreground:

  • Changing the weighting of individual condition and importance criteria; 
  • Changing the weighting of condition and importance with regard to a priority list;
  • Immediate priority list, clearly visible and, of course, exportable;
  • State-importance diagram. 

Forecast comparison

At the core of asset management is the question "When do I need to invest how much in which assets and for what reason?". The answer to this question is very individual and depends not only on the network conditions but also very much on the individual company or asset management goals, which have to be defined internally. The Forecast Comparison App offers assistance with many of the aspects mentioned:

  • Forecast variants can be compared with each other with regard to their effects (e.g. budget adjustments, service life adjustments of operating resources (groups), etc.).
  • Presentation of the effects on desired aspects such as failure, age, book value, renewal rate, remaining useful life and/or investment developments, etc.
  • Comparison of key figures of any kind. 

Fixed assets

For the regulatory asset manager, it can be of great advantage to be able to view his fixed assets in a dashboard system according to certain filters such as asset classes, cost centre, year of capitalisation, status, old/new asset, etc. The fixed assets app is similar to the technical network statistics app in its functionality.

The fixed assets app is similar to the technical network statistics app in its mode of operation, but also offers the possibility of forecasting book value developments (per asset group) if the necessary data is available.

Power BI

In addition to the Business Intelligence solution Qlik, signion GmbH offers to create dashboards with the help of Power BI. 

Dashboards can also be displayed in Power BI using key figures, which can bring together and take into account data from different sources. Different elements offer the user the possibility to display and analyse the data in various ways.

Even built-in filters on the dashboard can update the data in real time according to the user's preferences. Through the cloud solutions, all dashboards and reports can be updated and made directly available to other users.

 

PowerBI - Network statistics

For the interactive presentation of resource-related data in PowerBI.
On request, the result file can contain the following functionalities if the necessary data is available:

  • Cross-divisional, cross-object type approach;
  • Map display of point objects;
  • Individual filter functionalities.

In addition to the statistical aspects, the user also has QA possibilities, as inhomogeneous data can be quickly identified. Possible exports from the app round off the results.