FieldALMA brings electrical and automation engineering into the digital age
FieldALMA is part of the ALMA enterprise management system, providing a centralized environment for managing electrical, automation, and IT network engineering data.
FieldALMA is an engineering software solution designed to meet the requirements of industrial environments. Its functionality covers both motor control and instrumentation engineering. Instead of relying on individual documents or drawings, all engineering data is stored in a shared virtual model that can be utilized throughout the entire lifecycle of the plant.
Up-to-Date Information in One Place
One of FieldALMA’s greatest advantages is the ability to centralize information in a single system. When a plant’s electrical and automation data is stored in a virtual model, the information remains up to date and easily accessible.
This significantly improves reliability compared with traditional static documents, which are often slow to update and prone to errors. By utilizing the virtual model, engineers, suppliers, and maintenance personnel all work with the same source of information, reducing data fragmentation and improving data quality.
From the customer’s perspective, another important benefit is that all engineering data remains under the customer’s ownership. The information is not lost when a project ends, personnel change, or suppliers are replaced. Instead, it becomes a long-term digital asset for the organization.
The Virtual Model Reduces Errors
In traditional CAD-based engineering, the risk of errors increases as a project progresses and the number of changes grows. FieldALMA is based on a virtual model that allows the system to automatically prevent many common engineering errors.
For example, duplicate identifiers and incorrect connections can be prevented already during the engineering phase. At the same time, engineering templates and predefined engineering types help ensure that solutions are created consistently.
In practice, this results in higher engineering quality, consistent documentation, and a lower risk of errors throughout the project.
Truly Efficient Change Management
Changes are the rule rather than the exception in industrial projects. Cable types, equipment, identifiers, and processes may change even during the final stages of a project.
In a traditional document-based approach, a single change may require the manual updating of dozens or even hundreds of drawings. In FieldALMA, the change is made directly to the data model, after which the system automatically updates drawings, reports, and documents to reflect the new situation.
The result is faster response to changes, less manual work, and a significantly lower risk of conflicting document versions.
Every Project Benefits the Next
Many companies effectively start each new project from scratch. With FieldALMA, model solutions created during previous projects are retained and can be reused in future projects.
FieldALMA includes predefined engineering types, report templates, and structures based on PSK model standards. These enable engineering work to follow consistent practices across different projects and engineering disciplines.
Model solutions created during projects remain part of the database and can also be utilized in future projects.
A Hierarchical Data Model Makes Information Easier to Find
Industrial environments are complex, and the same piece of equipment may simultaneously belong to several different hierarchies, such as project, building, and production process hierarchies.
FieldALMA supports multiple parallel hierarchies. Equipment can be viewed, for example:
- by physical location within the building hierarchy
- by building and floor level
- from the perspective of the process chain
- as part of a production line within the process hierarchy
- through ATEX zones
This makes information quick and easy to find, regardless of the perspective from which the user needs to access it.
In addition, FieldALMA’s ATEX management functionality enables the creation of virtual zones to which equipment can be assigned, helping to facilitate regulatory inspections.
Better Tools for Maintenance
With mobile access, maintenance personnel can view documentation directly in the field. Users can access real-time information about equipment, cabling, and systems without having to search for old drawings in the office.
Documents can also be marked up with redline changes, which can later be reviewed and incorporated into the official documentation in a controlled manner.
Faster access to information means faster troubleshooting, shorter downtime, and improved plant availability.
Built-In Standards Speed Up Engineering
FieldALMA includes predefined industry practices and models based on established standards. Engineers do not need to build everything from scratch but can utilize predefined:
- installation types
- equipment location solutions
- report templates
- document templates
- engineering types
This speeds up engineering work, standardizes working methods, and also helps meet regulatory requirements.
Revision Management Enables Controlled Changes
FieldALMA also includes revision management functionality.
Engineers can make changes to an existing production plant without unfinished designs becoming visible to production or maintenance personnel. Users continue to see the approved current state while engineers work on the new revision.
Only when the changes are complete is the revision published as part of the official documentation. This reduces misunderstandings, improves safety, and makes the implementation of changes significantly more controlled.
Competitive Advantage Through Better Information Management
When all information is managed in one place, errors are reduced, changes can be managed efficiently, and maintenance teams have access to up-to-date documentation when they need it. In practice, this means shorter production interruptions, improved plant availability, and more efficient project delivery.
For companies looking to develop their electrical, automation, and IT engineering processes while ensuring the long-term quality of their plant information, FieldALMA provides a clear path toward a more digital and efficient way of working.