|
|
Image
Development Ltd
6
. The Project
To ensure the continued growth in business and improvement in the service
offered to their customer base, IDL highlighted three major project objectives:
- deliver
specific electronic instructions to each manufacturing
plant;
- communicate
with clients allowing online access to web ordering;
- eliminate
areas of capacity constraint in the business.
6.1.
Project Team
Existing employees were all assigned to their own specific, roles within
the operation. In addition there was little inhouse IT capacity. IDL realised
that in order to effectively run the two new pieces of clothing software
they would have to employ two new staff members trained in maintaining and
operating the systems. They sought out and hired:
- a logistics
expert to run the PDM software and
- a CAD
operator to work with the design package
As the new PDM
and the CAD packages would not only have to communicate with each other,
but also with a web and email system, IDL sought outside help from software
integration specialists. They employed the services of a group of consultants.
They consisted of:
- an industrial
engineer to identify labour costs, bills of materials, component costs
and to load these onto the PDM software.
- a pattern
technologist to digitise the existing pattern library
on Lectra
- a consultant
to ensure compatibility between the IDL and remote
manufacturers’ CAD systems
For the front
end of their web site IDL tasked their existing design company in Dublin
to create their web pages. This design company had worked successfully with
IDL for a number of years providing quality and imaginative creative services.
As IDL had no in-house web skills, they sought quotes from web integration
companies to install and setup the core functionality web service. They
needed the outputs from both the PDM and the CAD system to be available
online to their manufacturing plants. The first quote they received seemed
very high.
The IT Manager was unfamiliar with the processes involved in building web
sites and again sought help from Enterprise Ireland. Coincidently, at this
time, Enterprise Ireland were running a Web Manager training course, covering
the basic building blocks of web implementation. After attending these sessions,
he had a far better understanding of the World Wide Web and, more importantly,
a good idea of what it should cost to implement such a project. Searching
for a more competitive quote, the IT Manager contacted other suppliers,
eventually receiving one costing almost a quarter of the original.
IDL wanted their customers to be able to use their web service to ordertheir
products online. As there seemed to be no off the shelf packages conforming
to these requirements, a custom application had to be built. The company
selected a consulting group to undertake this task and build the software.
6.2. Implementation
6.2.1. Technical Dimensions
The system is linked together in a Local Area Network (LAN) comprising of
a file server with thirteen nodes [fileserver and LAN – see sidebar].
Also included are a database, a PC running both the CAD system and the PDM
system and a further PC running the bespoke client communications software.
This network of systems manages all the internal operations of the company
and communicates to customers and manufacturers via the web.
All files are transmitted via a dial up modem connection. At present the
volume of network traffic leaving the company is small and the dial up facility
is sufficient to transmit effectively to customers and manufactures.
The CAD system enables the use of digital patterns. The finished file is
submitted for approval to IDL’s production personnel and is subsequently
sent electronically to IDL’s manufacturing partners.
The PDM software details the following, in each size, for every design:
- The exact
specifications
- The cost
per item
- A bill
of materials listing any additional items needed
for the garment such as buttons and trimming
- The supplier
for each items
Finished instructions
are sent electronically to partner companies.
The Client Communication software ties to an internal
stock management system. It allows the company to generate
weekly reports detailing stock values, back order lists
– all the information a client might want to monitor
on a weekly basis.
The file outputs from CAD, PDM and the Client Communication
software, are all available on the network for distribution.
Currently communication is email based with all files
sent out via email directly to the recipient. The web
server will be set up to provide direct links for the
customers to receive reports and for the manufactures
to be sent specifications and instructions.
Due to lack of in-house web development skills, security
considerations and the cost of buying additional hardware,
IDL decided on a hosting solution (hosting – see
sidebar) for their web server. UTV Internet (http://u.tv/Internet /services)
based in Dublin, provides servers, maintenance and software
to host and run company web servers.
Following an upgrade of the fileserver and LAN, all
users email on a dial up basis. Mail servers are run
by Ireland on-Line with all incoming mail and outgoing
mail being routed through the hosted mail server.
Using this architecture, IDL can maintain tight control
over which information is available externally and which
is restricted to internal use. The company consider
their designs, specifications and control procedures
to be valuable intellectual property, and has ensured
that their e-business solution does not expose them
to any unnecessary external risks.
It was decided for this project that the ordering system
would remain, as before, via either phone or fax. The
company felt that despite the buzz of the Internet ,
many companies deny web access to their employees. In
the experience of IDL, while over 10,000 staff members
in an organisation might be entitled to a uniform issue,
very few of them would have access to a browser on company
time.
The web site front end was designed and is currently
being integrated with the functional back end components,
namely the PDM, CAD and client software. This means
a permanent network connection will exist between all
the internal systems and the web server. This greatly
simplifies file transfer across the company improving
communications. As the primary function of the web site
was to facilitate B2B communications between IDL and
their customers, the site was designed to be fairly
static. Rather than put up a market focused site attempting
to attract business, the company felt it might be more
prudent to limit the company’s exposure to competitors
and concentrate on providing core services to its customers
and suppliers. With an emphasis on customer relationship
management, IDL have designed a site to improve client
communications and make tailored information from its
client software available to its customers.
6.2.2. Timelines
The project commenced in 1998 with detailed project
planning. Initial work in late 1998 and early 1999 concentrated
on the installation of a new fileserver and upgrading
of the LAN. However, some integration problems were
encountered this meant that the off the shelf systems
were not functional and running until June 2001. These
systems have been fully operational since that date,
utilizing email to forward specifications, instructions
and reports.
The Web site is planned for April 2003 with a fully
functional secure client section enabling online ordering.
6.2.3. Set backs and difficulties
The main problem encountered so far has been the integration
of the front end of the website and the file outputs
from the internal software systems. This issue is currently
being investigated. With hindsight, the company feels
that it might have been better to use one company to
do both the design and functional integration of the
web server. Using two companies has meant another interface
for IDL to manage – not an easy task with the normal
pressures of operating a busy business.
|
|
