VirtECS^® COMET

Project Planning and Candidate Project Selection

VirtECS COMET (Combinatorial Optimization Managing Emerging Therapeutics) is a novel software package designed for project and function managers to improve the difficult processes of candidate project selection and resource allocation and scheduling. Its interface is designed to let you see at a glance project and deliverable timelines and identify constrained resources.

VirtECS COMET begins by pulling together data from disparate sources on milestones, deliverables, resource supply and demand, and project priorities. Reports and interactive graphs allow the user to identify resource bottlenecks and to visualize opportunities for selecting new candidates to enter the portfolio. Resources are tracked on both a probabilized and unprobabilized basis - since new product development is an inherently uncertain process. VirtECS COMET has a number of features designed to allow the user to consider a variety of scenarios, consider their resource usage patterns, and compare different options. The greatest benefits are available, however, when the system is teamed up with VirtECS PlanIt and/or VirtECS Scheduler. These supplemental modules provide advanced analytical capability for portfolio optimization, site selection, optimization of outsource and in-license options, scheduling of projects and deliverables, and acceleration and deceleration of designated projects. To provide as much support for the decision making process as possible, VirtECS COMET also integrates smoothly with Microsoft Office products, and can export a wide variety of tables and graphs to Microsoft Excel, or create summary reports in Microsoft Word and/or Power Point. If getting the most out of your new product development process is important to you, be sure to consider the benefits that VirtECS COMET provides.

How Can VirtECS^® COMET Improve Your Project Pipeline?

Bridge Strategic to Tactical Planning

VirtECS COMET is the latest addition to the VirtECS Pharmaceutical Suite, and was designed to bridge the gap between high-level strategic planning at the portfolio level (VirtECS PlanIt) and detailed tactical planning at the activity level (VirtECS Star). COMET imports data from Star and/or ERP systems (e.g. SAP) in the form of project milestones and deliverables along with their resource demands and available supply. COMET has both analytical and reporting capabilities to support project level decision-making. Results can then be exported up to the portfolio level or back down to VirtECS Star.

Identify Resource Bottlenecks

The interface in VirtECS COMET was designed to provide summary results quickly in a dashboard format, with drilldown capabilities and ad hoc reports to quickly identify resource bottlenecks. With the timeline information however, you can see not only what resources are constraining, but which projects are most impacted by these bottleneck resources. The user may adjust project or deliverable dates via Gantt charts or tables.

Evaluate Candidate Projects

A key benefit of VirtECS COMET is the ability to consider current projects alongside upcoming /candidate projects and in-license opportunities. Scenario analysis tools allow creation and comparison of multiple “what-if” options to maximize project throughput as well as make efficient use of available resources.

Transform Data to Actions

The volume of data in ERP systems can make it difficult to see the big picture and identify the best options for project timing. VirtECS COMET not only has the visualization and analytical tools needed for this, but it also offers automatic export of worksheets to Microsoft Excel or Office.

Go Further with VirtECS® Scheduler

VirtECS Scheduler integrates with VirtECS COMET to provide even more powerful analytical tools - automatically scheduling project deliverables and timing of new candidate projects according to strategic options chosen by the user. In addition, the Scheduling module can be used to guide site selection to optimize project throughput, when activities can be done with different resources or locations

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