Philosophy

At PSE we have strong views on how a company in the advanced technology sector should operate to ensure maximum benefit for all concerned. Key to this are principles of Continuous Innovation and Partnership, where we, our partners, our customers and their suppliers work together to apply advanced technology for mutual benefit.

These are some of the things that are important to us:

We believe in the power of modelling. We believe that modelling has the power to significantly alter the world of process manufacturing, by bringing quantified decision support to key design and operational decisions at a much lower cost than any other available option. The benefits for our customers are enhanced production and profitability with lower capital and energy costs, and improved environmental and health and safety compliance. This results in a reduction in energy and material use, which helps to make the world a cleaner, healthier and more attractive place in which to live.

We have a 'model-centric' view of the process lifecycle. To support this vision, we develop and supply modelling products and services that can be applied from the laboratory to the operations room or purchasing floor, as well as facilities that enable models to be transferred seamlessly between the modelling stakeholders within the organisation. Once built, a model can be used by many different people, for many different purposes.

We believe that models are documents, not software. We believe that models are not just pieces of software code - they are living 'documents' that contain valuable corporate knowledge. This is reflected in the design and architecture of our gPROMS and ModelEnterprise software, where model content and solution methods are kept separate. This means that models are easily documented, maintained and quality-assured, and can be transferred easily between the different departments in an organisation. See the gPROMS Concepts & Technologies and the gPROMS Product Family pages to learn more about how this works in practice.

We pursue a policy of Continuous Innovation. We believe that the process industries are moving towards the widespread adoption of modelling as a key technology, and it is only those providers who are committed to innovation that will be able to satisfy the demanding requirements of the industry leaders in the future. PSE already has a strong reputation as an innovator: we were the first to provide key technologies such as distributed parameter modelling, dynamic optimisation, advanced model validation techniques and model-based experiment design within a general-purpose process modelling framework. We were the first to develop a viable link between process modelling and Computational Fluid Dynamics that is capable of providing detailed visualization of the phenomena occurring inside complex reactors or crystallisation units. We remain committed to advancing model-based technology in all its forms; this includes applying Continuous Innovation within our own products in order to take advantage of the continual advances in computing, communication and numerical solution technology.

We believe in R&D. Continuous Innovation cannot happpen without a commitment to R&D. PSE's roots are in leading-edge R&D at Imperial College London; we have continued the tradition not only by maintaining strong links with academic and research institutions via PSE Academic but also by continuing to spend a significant proportion of annual revenue - around 50% - on R&D. This translates directly into technical advantage for our customers, who benefit from the latest modelling technology, the most innovative modelling techniques for complex processes and operations, and an ever-growing base of trained expertise on which they can call.

We prefer to work in partnership with our customers wherever possible. There have been many changes in the way operating companies and their suppliers work over the last five years, leading in many cases to reductions in technical personnel with process modelling skills. At the same time, modelling technology has become more powerful. The most effective way to ensure total solutions which fit your requirements exactly is for us to work closely with your specialist engineering design, operations or research personnel. This is the philosophy at the heart of our ModelCare^®programme.

We work the way you work. Depending on your requirements and personnel skill levels, PSE can be a supplier of software, a supplier of services, or both.

We are inclusive, not exclusive. Rather than compete, we work in collaboration with other modelling software vendors where we can. This includes other suppliers of simulation and modelling software who could be considered to be our competitors. Thus we are a MATLAB^® Connections partner; we work with companies such as Honeywell and FLS Automation to embed gPROMS modelling and solution engine within their proprietary simulation environments; we provide software products that allow gPROMS models to be embedded within other commercial simulation packages such as Aspen Plus^TM and PRO/II^TM; and we work with our customers and research organisations to embed their proprietary technology within gPROMS.

We work with best-in-class partners in the areas that are not PSE core business. Honeywell, Fluent, ABB Automation, OLI Systems, IPCOS Technology, Infochem... we work closely with organisations who are recognised global leaders or bring excellence and innovation within their niche. By working with these organisations and with the technology within your company, we can bring you a comprehensive, unified solution which fits your unique requirements. See our Industry links page for more information.

We believe in open models. The days where companies can be expected to rely on 'black box' models when making vital process design and operating decision are over. We supply the gPROMS Process Model Library (PML) and our Advanced Model Libraries (AMLs) as open source models, meaning that you can see the relationships and assumptions used and easily customise models to suit your own requirements exactly. Our belief that models are actually 'documents' that contain valuable corporate knowledge is reflected in developments such as the extensive Quality Assurance techniques in gPROMS, the gPROMS family approach, and the 'self-documenting' model concept.

We are committed to open systems. PSE is fully committed to open systems, and this reflected by the uniquely-open architecture of our software products. We publish protocols for all key software interfaces, and make it easy for you to embed virtually any type of software - including your own solution techniques - in gPROMS, and gPROMS into virtually any software.

In particular, we are committed to CAPE-OPEN. Senior PSE personnel have been instrumental in setting the CAPE-OPEN standards for industry from the beginning, and we continue to invest heavily in CO developments. PSE is an active member of CO-LaN.

We employ top-quality personnel. PSE policy is to employ the best from industry and academia. Our Consulting team is composed of experts in their fields, and our PSE principals include individuals recognised internationally for their role in advancing simulation, optimisation and supply chain technology.

We believe in open and honest relationships. If modelling is not the best solution for your requirements, or we can't solve your modelling problem, we will tell you.

We have a strong academic research and teaching licensing programme. We work closely, via our dedicated PSE Academic division, with academic institutions and research organisations around the world. This benefits all concerned. Academic organisations get a low-cost tool for use in research and teaching, for applications such as process and control research, reaction engineering and experiment design, or as a platform to interface their own numerical solutions software. PSE benefits by building relationships with the people who are at the forefront of their technologies. Our customers benefit from the implementation of advanced and innovative technology within a framework which they can access commercially. This approach brings increasing benefits as industry develops closer links with external research organisations.

We are international in outlook. PSE is committed to expanding our operation internationally to cover all major markets for process modelling applications, with local offices or representation wherever possible.