PRIMA initiative for better IT value

Formed in 1992 by a group of European process sector companies, the ProcessIndustry Management Advantage (PRIMA) initiative is a consortium project part of the EC Esprit programme which is currently questioning and evaluating the very essence of information technology in the process industry.

Now some 22 companies strong, PRIMA recognises the importance of cooperative effort in solving some the core problems of inadequate IT performance and has formed a pilot network, with EC support, to explore concerns and actions. The initiative is aimed at enabling manufacturers to get better value from their IT investments at both specification and upgrade stages.

One area of obvious interest for PRIMA is the Internet, which can be used in a myriad of ways. A web site can give information about a company, its products and its achievements but it can do much, much more. Engineers in the field can access and receive technical specifications, even on-line testing and analysis protocols. Products can now even be bought and sold over the net.

PRIMA itself now has its own helpline and web site support, along with a series of management workshop programmes taking place this month and in September in Nice. A free management guide (Successful investment in information systems a business driven approach) is also available from the PRIMA enquiry service: 01242 604365, http://www.prima-europe.com