An Approach to Integrating Water Operational Control and Management Information Systems

Abstract

Operational control systems and management information systems have traditionally been designed and implemented separately, despite the fact that both systems serve the same strategic objectives. Water companies operate physical processes and infrastructures in order to provide water to customers in terms of water quantity and quality, and to satisfy economic objectives. This is achieved by taking decisions and executing activities. The set of decisions and activities which are directly related to the control of the physical processes is called the Production Management System (PMS). The paper proposes an approach for considering management activities and operational control activities within a common framework and a new technique is proposed for modelling and design of an integrated Production Management System in a water company.