Most Innovative Project : National Thermal Power Corporation : RFID & Collaborative Framework

A machine will function only when all its moving parts are well-oiled.

Similarly, an organization will function smoothly when every employee is

involved properly in its functioning. The collaborative framework is a set of

technologies deployed by NTPC, which help everyone be more productive, right

from the executives at the starting level to the top management, from vendors

and suppliers, to even Indian Railways.

The framework was envisaged keeping in mind this public sector giant's

aggressive expansion and diversification plans for its 40+ upcoming power

projects, as well as for managing its existing power plants. The only way to

successfully complete so many projects is to provide a constant monitoring

system to the top management so that they can address critical issues. Another

critical piece to the whole project puzzle is to be able to get the required

material from the vendors on time and at the right price. Plus, while managing

so many new projects, the management can't de-focus from its already running

projects. They need to ensure optimal efficiency at these plants, as well as

ensure their security. Considering the growing number of terror threats, the

latter has become extremely important in today's date and time.

Keeping the above business requirements in mind, NTPC used a set of

technologies for better collaboration. While the technologies themselves aren't

earthshaking, their innovative usage is certainly doing wonders for the company,

which is why our jury gave them the award for the most innovative project.

The entire deployment can be broken up into three parts-RFID, audio/video

conferencing, and SRM (Supplier Relationship Management).

Innovative RFID deployment



The RFID deployment at NTPC is possibly the first of its kind in this kind

of industry, and its innovative usage is one of the key reasons that our jury

this time selected it as the winner. One application of this technology is to

ensure the security of NTPC's power plants, wherein RFID tags have been deployed

across the entire route of the CISF personnel who make their rounds. Each CISF

personnel has been armed with hand held terminals, which records the date and

time of his visit. Similarly, RFID tags have also been at the pithead stations

of NTPC, where the merry-go-round carries coal to the plant's unloading point.

At times, the locos get delayed due to breakdown, etc. A GPRS based Tracko

system has been deployed for tracking the movement of these locos using RFID

tags. A third application of RFID is in tracking the drivers of trucks that come

to collect the ashes from thermal plants. Since these are contracted trucks,

RFID helps NTPC keep track of them when they enter the premises.

Project Monitoring Center



The second interesting deployment is of a project monitoring center, which

is basically a video conferencing room setup with a huge video wall at NTPC's HO

in New Delhi. This is used to interact with NTPC's 40 upcoming project sites.

All sites have a video conferencing facility as well as a high-res IP camera

deployed at a strategic location to view the project's progress. This has helped

NTPC in monitoring its upcoming projects by top management.

Managing Supplier Relations



Lastly, NTPC has deployed the SRM module, which has automated and simplified

the procurement process for NTPC and its suppliers. It ensures greater

transparency and  data security with the use of digital certificates. Suppliers

view NTPC bids on the SRM portal, submit their technical and price bids, and pay

tender fee through credit card online. This has reduced the lead time, improved

the response against tenders, and allows NTPC to do better negotiations with the

help of reverse auctions.

Lastly, the collaborative framework has also done integration with Indian

Railways FOIS (Freight Operations Information System), which helps NTPC track

its coal supplies.

The Impact



The collaborative framework is helping the organization in achieving its XI

plan target of achieving 50K MW by the end of 2012 and 75K MW by 2017.