Comos is the leading, object-oriented software solution in the market for the holistic and uniform viewing of a machine or unit. Thus we not only continues to set new technology standards but affects the market with new and decisive trends. The term “holistic viewing” only really came to life with the development of the so-called Life Cycle Asset Information Management Strategy. Being one of the most innovative software solutions available, Comos is used in the fields of process engineering, process technology, planning of piping, piping/isometry, electrical instrumentation and control technology, functional planning, servicing, and document and project management.

The aim of the development of Comos was to achieve new potentials for rationalization for planners and operators of industrial plant. The system makes possible:

• An optimization of the engineering processes
  
  
• A reduction of process throughput times
  
  
• The setting up of an efficient technical plant supervision and management strategy

The requirements arising from a market and corporate point of view for an integrated software solution must cover both the planning side and also aspects of the operational phase. These points of view only coincide to a certain extent.
For that reason it is of crucial importance for the operator of a process plant or unit that the documentation of the plant or unit is complete, consistent and always immediately available. The shutdown times should not be extended as the result of the need to search for data and documents. It must be possible to clarify and correct the causes of problems within a short time.

The plant or unit must therefore be function-oriented and not viewed separately in terms of plants and areas. This results in the following requirements:

• No lost of data in the transition between the individual project phases (handover):
  
  - Drafting
  - Basic Engineering
  - Execution planning
  - Erection
  - Initial commissioning
  - Operation
  - Servicing
  
  
• Integration of the control and engineering systems as a unit for all the needs of the operation of the plant or unit. The intelligent unit information system that is created as a result makes it possible to make available
  
  the right information | at the right time | to the right person for processing.
  
  
• Minimization of shutdown times due to problems through online help for error analysis and troubleshooting.