Panda
Energy
Client
Profile
Panda Energy International, Inc. ("Panda" or the "Company") is a
privately held, non-regulated electric generation company whose
primary focus is the development, ownership and operation of
state-of-the-art, environmentally clean, low-cost power plants.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Panda owns multiple generating
facilities in North America, Nepal and China. Since 1982, Panda has
grown into a significant player in the merchant power plant
industry. In addition, since the deregulation activities taking
place in Texas, as well as deregulation in other states in the
country, the complexities and dynamics of the energy markets have
impacted Panda's operations.
Executive
Summary
Panda has recognized that information technology will continue to
play a key role in its ability to respond to these changes and
support continued optimization of the underlying business
processes. With this recognition, Panda hired DYONYX to conduct an
independent assessment of current business processes and
information technology infrastructures and the viability of the
existing application systems to support the near-term growth
projections.
Solution
The scope of the project was to assess existing core business processes, the policies and procedures that support those processes and the capability of the existing information technology and business system infrastructures that support Panda's key business functions. In addition, the near-term viability of the infrastructures was evaluated in light of the Company's overall strategic directions and projected growth. The divisions within Panda that were included in the scope of the assessment were as follows: Engineering, Information Systems, Procurement, Legal, Real Estate, Accounting, Project Management, Work Planning and Control, Operations, Materials Management, Plant Optimization, Energy Management, Fuel Management, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, and Communications.
DYONYX conducted an assessment of the existing information technology infrastructures and the viability of the existing application systems to support the near-term growth projections. The team also evaluated the core processes, procedures, and operations of the departments referenced above. As part of this effort, DYONYX created written documents describing current processes and recommended improvements. We documented and currently maintain Standard Operating Procedures for the IT division. Specific recommendations were provided for improvement of policies and procedures, information assurance, employee roles and responsibilities, project management and planning, application support processes, software engineering practices, and quality assurance functions.
Using a structured business information modeling technique, we identified gaps relative to core business function processes, specific tasks required to support those processes and the required roles and responsibilities relative to the tasks. This analysis was further integrated into the current application systems architecture relative to business process requirements. Recommendations for readjusting resource allocation, policy and procedure inefficiencies, application system functionality, and integration strategies were also developed.
From a data warehouse and document management perspective, DYONYX also developed a high-level strategy for integrating hard copy data and information available from Web-based information databases related to energy trading including weather, daily energy prices, trading and pricing information, and operations data. We identified data integrity issues and developed strategies for consolidation of information and databases and resolution of the problems and deficiencies. We evaluated the adequacies of the database applications infrastructures including interoperability, and performance. We were then tasked to design a multi-tier application that had to be integrated with 11 other disparate generation systems that required seamless integration into one large data warehouse for supply chain information on rate usage.
Significant Project
Achievements
DYONYX completed this firm fixed priced project within budget and
timeframe required. Panda was so satisfied with the recommendations
and all deliverables that they awarded DYONYX a 1-year outsource
support contract.
To learn more, visit www.dyonyx.com
