Functionality | Benefits | The Open Road - Standards
Functionality
AMS Device Manager can be used in four primary ways:
- Configuration Management
- Calibration Management
- Diagnostics and Monitoring
- Documentation Management
Configuration Management allows you to change, store, compare and transfer device configurations. Tasks such as changing upper and lower range values, damping values, and setting up an LCD meter on devices are quick and easy. Swapping out devices and setting up the replacement device only requires copying the configuration to another device with the click of one button. All device records are easily accessed and viewed on user friendly screens.
Calibration Management allows you to define test schemes, schedule calibrations and manage calibration data. The
Test Scheme includes the calibration interval, test point requirements, and accurac, as well as both set-up and clean up instructions. Then, devices from your database can be grouped in Calibration Routes according to your choice of device type, plant location, date, etc. Next, Calibration Routes are checked out manually to generate a paper calibration form, or checked out to a self-documenting calibrator. After the calibrations are performed, the As-Found/As-Left information is entered back into AMS Device Manager manually or checked in automatically using the calibrator interface. All past calibration records can be reviewed by accessing the Calibration History for each device.
After several calibrations are performed you’ll begin to see a trend for this device displayed on a graph without having to search for old paper records. Calibration certificates can be printed and filed if a hard copy is required according to your procedures.
All the test equipment calibrations can be managed so you know when it’s time to send them to a certified testing lab. The information on your test equipment calibrations can also be stored and managed in AMS Device Manager.
Flow verifications are also available to you to make sure your flowmeters are configured properly. A flow verification can be performed using the “Totalize” function on most flowmeters and verifying its accuracy against a known process quantity.
In addition, you can manage external lab test schemes associated with
devices that are sent to a third party for calibration, such as test
equipment and some flow devices.
Diagnostics and Monitoring lets you quickly check the health of any connected device by viewing the status. The
Status screen shows overview, critical, and informational status messages that let you decide if any action needs to be taken.
To increase overall process availability, a proactive method of diagnosing potential problems includes a critical device list in the Alert Monitor. The Alert Monitor can poll the devices on the list at set intervals and receive any active status alert messages.
When a new message is received by the scan, a bell located at the bottom right hand corner of your AMS Device Manager screen will highlight to let you know that you need to investigate further. The Alert Monitor summary screen provides you with an overview of all alerts. Then, you can interrogate the device in question to get a complete understanding of the problem. After the problem is identified and fixed, you can clear the message from the Alert Monitor summary screen.
Automatic documentation management will save you valuable time. The Audit Trail automatically generates a historical record for maintenance activities associated with each device connected to AMS Device Manager. Events recorded in the Audit Trail include Application, Calibration, Configuration Change, Status Alerts and System Maintenance. Audit Trail records are tied to a plant location and to a specific device. The Audit Trail simplifies your job because as you perform tasks, it works in the background to automatically create the necessary documentation trail. You no longer need to search for records in a file cabinet. Simply look in the Audit Trail history to determine when, and by whom, a particular activity was performed.
In fact, the Audit Trail is busy recording information even if you don’t initially buy it. Then, when your needs change, simply purchase the Audit Trail option and gain access to the historical information that has been recorded.
Here are some
highlights (684KB) from the latest release.
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Benefits
Startup & Commissioning
AMS Device Manager helps your maintenance staff work more efficiently with lower costs and fewer trips to the field. With AMS Device Manager, you’ll reduce operating and maintenance costs in installation, commissioning, and regular ongoing maintenance because your staff can perform these quickly and easily. For example, you can run loop tests from a single convenient location instead of chasing wires from junction box to junction box. The bottom line:
AMS Device Manager saves an average of $83 per device during the startup and commissioning phase. Often, customers will find the payback is complete before startup. Combined with the time savings AMS Device Manager provides to allow earlier startup, your final savings can be millions of dollars.
Improved Quality
In a perfect world, your process would be consistent, day in and day out. But the reality is that field device performance, like most things, can degrade over time. Variability is a natural phenomenon that must be dealt with. With AMS Device Manager, online device diagnostics and status information alert you to any device not performing as it should. You gain process consistency through properly performing field devices.
Increased Availability
Increased process availability is about keeping production running on schedule . . . just the way you planned it.
AMS Device Manager provides real-time online access to intelligent device diagnostics and alerts, so you always know how devices are performing and have valuable information about the health of the device. Predictive information can alert you to a device that is likely to fail, so you can replace it at a convenient time, rather than suffer from a costly unscheduled shutdown.
For example, if a valve exceeds its travel accumulation alarm, the valve’s life could be in jeopardy. If the alarm continues, proactive maintenance can be scheduled, without incurring unplanned costs.
Even during scheduled maintenance, time is of the essence. With AMS Device Manager, maintenance preparations can be performed ahead of time, stored in the PC, and then simply downloaded to the devices during the shutdown . . . increasing your efficiency, decreasing turnaround time, and maximizing process availability.
Reduced Costs
In today’s competitive business climate, there is increasing pressure to reduce capital spending and engineering costs. Budgets are tighter, labor is more expensive and resources of all kinds are at a premium.
AMS Device Manager reduces capital costs by enabling you to configure the same field device for a variety of applications. As a result, you can significantly reduce the number of field devices needed. For example, AMS Device Manager, in conjunction with the Rosemount 3095
MultiVariable™ Mass Flow Transmitter, offers three measurements for the cost of one field device.
Plus, AMS Device Manager reduces engineering costs by simplifying and reducing the number of engineering hours needed to develop your configuration database and documentation.
Safety and Compliance
Today, more than ever before, you need an effective change management system in place to meet the requirements of the FDA, OSHA, ISO, EPA and general principles of Process Safety Management.
The task of documenting maintenance activities is consuming ever-larger percentages of your time and energy,
not just for U.S. companies, but worldwide. Ironically, it may take more time to do the required documentation than it does to perform the actual maintenance work.
That’s why Emerson’s AMS Device Manager makes regulatory compliance an automatic part of the real work. When maintenance functions are performed using AMS Device Manager, records are automatically produced and logged in an audit trail. The documentation step is done simultaneously and accurately.
For example, if a transmitter’s range is reconfigured from AMS Device Manager, a record will be automatically generated that keeps track of the critical change information. It’s just that simple.
For SIS, Safety Instrumented Systems, AMS Device Manager provides access to diagnostics and simplifies testing. It gives easy access to device diagnostics, user security, audit trail documentation (both automated and manual entries), device configuration storage and comparison, efficient SIF, Safety Instrumented Functions proof testing, and calibration verification.
What about TUV certification? AMS Device Manager is certified by Exida as non-interfering and does not require a TÜV certificate for SIS applications.
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The Open Road - Standards
For the past 20 years, Emerson has led the world in commitment to open technologies. Emerson has provided leadership in implementing HART, Foundation fieldbus, OPC, XML, and Web Services. Emerson has donated technology as well as support to these organizations and to global standard’s organizations. AMS Device Manager continues to support Emerson’s commitment to openness in the following ways:
- AMS Device Manager will connect to any system using open standards.
- AMS Device Manager is responsible for providing the communication interface to instruments and valves. Interfaces exist today for HSE (fieldbus), HART over Profibus, HART multiplexers, and the Arcom protocol for HART.
- AMS Device Manager supports HART and Foundation fieldbus SNAP-ON applications via OPC.
Emerson encourages all device manufacturers to improve their AMS Device Manager screens. Device developer toolkits for both HART and fieldbus give manufacturers the opportunity to highlight the best features of their devices for AMS Device Manager users.
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