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Asset Performance Management (APM) Software

Simplifying Complexity: Harnessing Asset Performance Management (APM) to Make Sense of Complex Data

Introduction

This presentation analyzes Asset Performance Management (APM) within Bayer's Crop Science division. As a mechanical engineer with 15 years of experience in reliability and integration projects across various industries, I provide insights into Bayer's large-scale operations and the specific challenges faced in harmonizing different systems post-acquisition.

 

Bayer, a global leader with approximately 100,000 employees and significant investments in R&D, operates in three divisions: Consumer Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Crop Science. My focus lies in Crop Science, which leads agricultural innovations to address global food security and climate challenges. Our mission emphasizes increasing land productivity and ensuring the quality and safety of food through advanced technologies and data analytics.

 

The presentation highlights a significant project aimed at integrating two disparate APM systems—Meridian 3.6 and a full 4.3 system—into a unified platform. This effort required harmonizing best practices, aligning IT strategies, and ensuring business continuity across multiple SAP systems. The project's complexity stemmed from vast amounts of legacy data with various customizations, necessitating a careful and iterative approach to data migration and system integration.

 

Key aspects discussed include:

  1.  Project Goals: Merging systems to create a cohesive APM platform using best practices as a baseline.
  2.  Challenges: Addressing the complexity of data integration, managing multiple SAP systems, and ensuring minimal disruption during transition.
  3.  Change Management: Incorporating change management strategies from the outset, focusing on stakeholder engagement, communication, and organizational interventions.
  4.  Technological Shifts: Transitioning to cloud-based solutions to enhance reliability, scalability, and update efficiency.

 

The project's iterative nature allowed for continuous improvement and adaptation, ensuring alignment with evolving needs and technological advancements. Despite initial setbacks due to partner expertise gaps, the strategic shift to cloud solutions facilitated progress and stakeholder buy-in. The presentation concludes with a reflection on the project's success factors, emphasizing the importance of standardization, flexibility, and effective communication.

 

Looking ahead, Bayer plans to leverage the project's outcomes through a dedicated program to support ongoing adoption and address future challenges, ensuring sustained innovation and operational excellence in Crop Science.