Rplan

Actano's RPLAN is an enterprise project management software for the cross-department, cross-location and cross-company management of complex product development projects and distributed value creation. As the de facto standard in the German automotive industry, RPLAN e3 is the benchmark for collaborative and cross-company project management.
Collaborative project management
The collaborative project management methodology is based on distributed rather than centralized planning, on communication and collaboration rather than rigid calculation algorithms. Clearly allocated planning elements for which defined project members are responsible are linked into a planning network which shares a common database, Planning and control responsibility is assumed by the instance that is also responsible for project content.
In contrast to traditional PM tools, where a change in date can cause automatic and so uncontrollable shifts in the project schedule, RPLAN notifies the project members involved; these then actively agree on the best solution for the given situation. A communication network is created into which all project members are actively linked - even across company and location boundaries.
The RPLAN methodology supports the practice of working in development teams with direct responsibility and helps master the complexity inherent in distributed development projects.
Description
Clear responsibilities and specifications are defined for each requirement and each goal and are communicated in a top-down approach to the project members who must implement them. Personalized, role-based overviews systematically show all personal tasks and reports and their context. In a bottom-up approach, feedback on the degree of completion, risks, and forecasts is provided directly by the person responsible without the need to navigate through hierarchical structures first.
In real time, project managers can view and access aggregated feedback and the status of parallel (sub) projects. They are able to identify impending scheduling and quality problems at an early stage and to take timely corrective action. Integrated scheduling and maturity diagnostics have led to the replacement of typically slow and cost-intensive response systems with a preventive action management system.
RPLAN e3 ensures that complex product development processes are personalized for those involved, are transparent, and can be kept under full control. This means that companies are much more likely to achieve their scheduling and quality goals.
Areas of use
RPLAN is designed for use in industry sectors, companies, and cooperations where one or more of the following criteria apply:
* There is great pressure to significantly reduce development and project times
* Projects involve a multitude of interdependent process steps (1000 and more)
* Projects involve large numbers of participants (100 or more), distributed locations, or several companies
* Project partners are spread across the globe
* There are heterogeneous factors such as incompatible project management systems
* Project results must satisfy comprehensive and varied quality requirements
Functionality
The RPLAN e3 suite features all key functions to perform the complete project management cycle (Plan - Do - Check - Act) and can be scaled to corporate needs.
The standard version includes
* Schedule Manager, including Offline Client
* Risk and action management
* Maturity management
* Virtual project workspace
* myRPLAN and personalized views
* Reporting
* Presentation Graphics
* API
* CCP (Cross Company Planning)
Optional extras
* Resource management
* Time recording
* Interfaces to ERP, PLM, and process tools
Use cases
RPLAN e3 is used to:
* Plan and control projects across locations and companies
* Implement time-to-market optimization strategies
* Implement improved efficiency projects in product development
* Supplement ERP systems with powerful modules for operative project management
* Supplement PLM systems with powerful modules for operative project management
History - partnerships
Originating from cooperation with a Bavarian car maker and based on the methodology developed by ACTANO, RPLAN was launched in 1994 as the first enterprise database solution on the German market. In 1996, the first German OEM opted for the group-wide deployment of RPLAN. In 1998, RPLAN was the first project management software also to ship in a Java version. This facilitates cross-location collaboration and led to the next innovation: With the introduction of the Cross Company Planning (CCP) technology in 2002, RPLAN became the first and only project management software worldwide to support the direct integration of development partners into product development planning and control processes. In 2012, RPLAN was also made available as a cloud service.
To promote the ongoing development of the software and to add new functions, ACTANO maintains partnerships with leading solution providers and consultancies such as Hewlett Packard, Mieschke,Hofmann&Partner MHP, SAP, PTC, and Siemens PLM.
System requirements
RPLAN is a 3-tier Java application. The server component supports Tomcat, WebLogic, WebSphere and SAP NetWeaver. Depending on module, the client is implemented as a Web client or as a rich client. The rich client makes use of a Java applet that does not require local installation. RPLAN offers a programming interface in two variants. The first is a batch interface to download project data, create new projects, and modify existing projects, all on an XML basis. The second is a standard Web service interface to modify the data in RPLAN.

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