Geac (TSX: GAC, NASDAQ: GEAC) has been awarded a contract by Sandvik Mining and Construction (SMC) to deliver an end-to-end information management solution that encompasses all SMC operations, from production through replacement parts and after-sales service. The project will integrate new global parts and service management functionality with SMCs current Geac System21 enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
SMCs vast product range of drilling, excavation, crushing and screening machinery, equipment and tools for the mining and construction industries are used around the world. Its products are extremely sophisticated, often incorporating thousands of mechanical parts, so SMC streamlines its complex manufacturing process using Geac System21 software. However its after-sales servicing operations have not been sufficiently coordinated, according to Ken Stapylton, Sandvik Tamrock Division Manager for Parts and Service:
Our machines require careful planned maintenance to keep them operational as down-time can be extremely expensive for our clients, especially when theyre mining thousands of metres below the Earths surface. To date we have used a variety of Service Management solutions in our global operations and this has meant we have not been able to run a totally coordinated and efficient operation. So, with the huge growth in our southern hemisphere markets and the significant contribution after-sales makes to our income, we decided to introduce a global standard solution which would provide tight links to our global ERP system.
The new Geac solution, which is expected to be delivered by the end of 2005, will be fully integrated with Geac System21 to provide control and visibility of virtually all aspects of SMCs service offering. SMC will use the system to coordinate customer phone calls and Web-based enquiries via a network of call centre operations, and to plan scheduled maintenance and breakdown calls for the most efficient deployment of its field service engineers. The after-sales parts operation will be synchronised with inventory management to ensure spare parts are available prior to job commencement.
Anders Klang, IT Development Manager for SMC, said:
Weve been using Geac System21 for 10 years and also its Field and Workshop-based Service Management software in a number of locations, as well as other third-party solutions. Weve also been using Geacs Job Management software to coordinate some of our major production projects. We now look forward to Geac delivering its new, single integrated solution for our global operations to bring all of these systems together. We will also consider using Geac System21 Performance Analyser software, which will provide access to financial and non-financial data, enabling us to make better decisions and improve our operational performance and agility by monitoring and reacting to key performance measurements.
During 2005, SMC is also in the process of rolling out Geac System21 Aurora, the latest version of Geacs ERP software, to its global operations.
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