Integration

An integrated solution for a maintenance management system requires simplicity and openness towards other information systems within the company. API PRO is optimized to easy system integration due to its open structure and the modern database techniques where information exchange via SQL commands, ODBC and OLE links are directly available. API PRO has been developed with direct integration for condition monitoring, documents and OLE links to MS Excel, MS Word and other programs. The database structure and the special transaction handling with full debit/credit control have furthermore been developed specially for a controlled data exchange towards external systems.

 

Simple Interface Towards External Systems
Although API PRO holds the complete and fully integrated maintenance management each company will have its own priorities with regard to which system to use for which purpose. API PRO is designed to work in an open IT environment. It is among others possible to split mainly the stock and purchasing functions between almost any ERP system and API PRO. API PRO is also open to receive work order requests from for example Shop Floor Data Collectors.

 

The key word in the development of the Interfacing module has been STANDARD. The same set of tools is used no matter what ERP or other system API PRO interfaces to. The configuration can be done by the customer, by local API PRO consultants or by any competent independent IT consultant.

As On-line as Required
The delay of up-to-date information transfer in a company with multiple IT solutions can be considerable. With the API PRO Interfacing module the user can control the delay to own needs by the Automation Timer. The timer can control procedures belonging to API PRO as well as other procedures in the operative system environment. This means that the Automation Timer can be used also to control the information flow in and out of ERP systems and/or other systems.

 

Quality Interfacing
If an information transfer goes wrong, it is possible to re-run. The full information extracted from API PRO can at any time be tracked back to exactly the transaction in API PRO it came from. Another very important general quality feature is the database trigger system, which to a high extent will stop inconsistent data from entering into the database. The interfacing tools will at any time guarantee the consistency of the database.

 

Optimizing Network Traffic
The Automation Timer may be installed to run on a specific client or on a Windows server. When installed on the server the timer can be used not only for interfacing purposes but also for automatic execution of the different statistics batches in API PRO. By doing so instead of executing from a client a dramatic load is removed from the local area network.