Hexagon SmartPlant Materials v10 Update 6 (SPMAT) – Integrated Lifecycle Material and Supply Chain Management Solution for EPC Projects

SmartPlant Materials is a comprehensive, integrated lifecycle material and supply chain management solution developed by Hexagon (formerly Intergraph) . It provides a common collaboration platform and project workbench for all partners in any EPC project supply chain, covering the entire period from initial cost estimation through on-site management .

The platform operates on a centralized architecture—typically an Oracle-based backend —ensuring that every stakeholder from the piping engineer to the procurement officer and warehouse manager accesses the same “single source of truth” . By utilizing a unique Ident Code system, SPMAT tracks individual components with surgical precision, eliminating ambiguities inherent in generic descriptions .

Version 10 Update 6 represents the latest iteration of this mature platform, which has been deployed on thousands of EPC projects globally. The software has historically been released in a schedule of major versions and updates, with Update 6 being the latest service pack for the v10 release line.

Primary Users

SmartPlant Materials (SPMAT) v10 Update 6 is designed for procurement managers, materials controllers, supply chain engineers, project managers, and construction planners in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) industry. It serves professionals who:

  • Manage material procurement, tracking, and logistics for large-scale industrial projects, including LNG terminals, refineries, petrochemical plants, and offshore platforms 

  • Coordinate with multiple stakeholders including engineering teams, procurement officers, vendors, and construction site managers 

  • Ensure accurate material availability aligns with project construction schedules and commissioning timelines

  • Track materials from requisition through fabrication, shipping, receiving, and site installation using a centralized “single source of truth” 

  • Automate bill of materials (BOM) reconciliation to reduce surplus and avoid material shortages

Key Features & Capabilities

Core Material Management

  • Comprehensive Material Standardization: Standardizes materials, bills of materials, requisitions, and procurement functions across the entire project lifecycle 

  • Unique Ident Code Tracking: Tracks individual components with precision, eliminating ambiguities in material descriptions 

  • Automated MTO Import: Direct pull of material take-offs (MTOs) from Smart 3D (S3D) and SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI), eliminating manual “export-to-Excel” steps where data corruption often occurs 

  • BOM Reconciliation: Automates bill of materials reconciliation to prevent over-ordering; typical surplus on projects without integrated material management is 10–15%, with SPMAT this is frequently reduced to under 3% 

Procurement and Supply Chain Management

  • Competitive Bidding and Procurement: Centralized database for all bid and procurement data, enabling efficient management throughout the tender and purchase phases 

  • Supplier Management (eSupplier) : Allows vendors to input and maintain information directly, reducing administrative overhead for EPC companies 

  • Expediting and Inspection: Real-time joint access to current data for all stakeholders, including suppliers, shipping companies, and inspectors 

  • Logistics and Tracking: Integration with GPS and RFID technologies for live “track-and-trace” capabilities, particularly for critical path items 

Integration with Hexagon Ecosystem

  • Smart 3D (S3D) : Direct MTO export from the 3D plant model 

  • SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) : Instrument MTO integration, particularly for complex long-lead electrical and instrumentation items 

  • SmartPlant P&ID: Equipment and instrument lists feed into SPMAT 

  • SmartPlant Foundation (SPF) / HxGN SDx: Data backbone connecting all applications 

  • SAP Integration: Purchase requisition and PO flows from SPMAT to SAP 

Construction and Site Management

  • Material Availability Forecasting: Proactive forecasting tool that alerts project managers to potential bulk material shortages weeks before they impact construction schedules 

  • Warehousing and Distribution: Manages site functions including warehousing and material disposition 

  • Subcontracting Management: Comprehensive subcontracting functionality covering planning through progress management 

  • Mobile Access: Field supervisors can verify stock levels instantly via mobile devices 

What’s New in SmartPlant Materials v10 Update 6

While specific release notes for Update 6 are not publicly available, the v10 Update 6 version includes:

  • Reference Data Manager (RDM) : Enforces global standards across multiple projects through strict Commodity Codes, ensuring engineering intent is preserved during procurement 

  • Project Supply Chain (PSC) Module: Real-time expediting and logistics tracking 

  • Oracle-Based Architecture: Supports massive datasets with millions of Ident Codes without performance degradation 

  • Digital Twin Integration: Physical material properties and manufacturer certifications (MTCs) linked directly to 3D assets for owner-operator maintenance 

  • Audit Trail: Every quantity change is digitally signed, providing full traceability