The Company
Končar Power Transformers Ltd. (KPT), based in Zagreb, Croatia, specializes in the design, development, production, sale, testing and servicing of power transformers. KPT is a joint venture of Siemens Energy and Končar. The company has been producing transformers since 1945. Today, its products span step-up transformers up to 550 kV/1000 MVA; network and auto transformers up to 550kV/1000 MVA; HVDC transformers up to 550 kV DC; and shunt reactors up to 550 kV/250 MVAr.
The Challenge
KPT wanted to streamline and optimize its production planning processes while ensuring that all its departments were working from the same information base. It had been collecting plan information from them, then sending out a PDF which was out of date almost immediately. KPT had developed an in-house solution that went some way to solving the problem, but had difficulties finding a service provider that understood the issues and had the right skill sets to solve them.
The Solution
The result of the project is the Smart Integrated Multi-level Planning Solution (SIMPS). It is based on Microsoft Project Server 2019 along with the product TPG ProjectLink. TPG ProjectLink is a Microsoft Project Client add-in that is available both on-premise and online. TPG also developed some customized features for KPT and implemented them in an add-in and web app known as the Transformer System Selector (TSS).
The Benefits
Continuous data sharing between all stages of the planning process give all departments a unified and easy-to-use overview of the information they need. In addition, the TPG solution provides users with far more extensive insight than they had before, supporting faster decision-making and more efficient planning. They also have early warnings of potential production bottlenecks. Users from management to the shop floor also benefit from better visibility and more accurate control over their projects and portfolios.
“We knew exactly what we wanted and didn’t want to make any compromises, so TPG was the only logical choice. Their approach impressed me, and they also offer their own add-in tools that extend the functionality of Microsoft Project.”
Domagoj Salaj, Production planning team leader at KPT
