When Fosroc approached Scalable Data Systems (SDS) for a software solution to their online data management needs, they were looking for a system that would seamlessly integrate the two arms of their mining industry business. SDS’s Axapta system provided them with this along with innovative, flexible, fast and easy to use features that gave them scope to easily expand the system.
Scalable Data Systems is Australia’s leading provider of Axapta software.
BP subsidiary, Fosroc Mining Australia Pty Ltd, manufactures Lokset resin capsules and High yield powder cements for the mining industry. Fosroc Newcastle is a specialist mining ventilation contractor to the coal industry.
Fosroc Finance Director Phil Panozzo comments, “When we approached SDS we had two software systems that were totally independent of each other. For manufacturing we had a very unfriendly, legacy system, which did not allow us to take advantage of new technologies, and stifled our management process. Our ventilation business, which we acquired in 1999, used a very basic financial system. To replace these, at the time we wanted a system that, amongst other things, was Y2K compliant, GST ready and provided seamless integration of data from both arms of the business. We contacted around 20 companies, short listed 10 who gave demonstrations and then closely scrutinized 3 from the short list.“
He continues, “SDS was chosen because of their IT industry experience and their ability to adapt the Axapta product to provide a solution to our system requirements. We needed a software partner not a box or system dropper and SDS understood our business needs. Once on board, their implementation went very efficiently. They programmed the Axapta software to seamlessly integrate the data from both sections of our business, putting all financial, manufacturing and project management data onto one system giving easy accessibility to key staff.”
Panozzo continues, "What stood out for us with Axapta was its “innovation”, with features ahead of others. Its flexible, layered technology gave us ready access to data, and the ability to easily modify and upgrade. We liked the ability to produce reports from all levels of our data and its close links to Microsoft Office. Our existing hardware, and Microsoft Windows NT system was sufficient for the needs of Axapta which greatly assisted in keeping implementation costs low. SDS implemented one site in Nowra for all of Fosroc’s operations with a dedicated communication line for their Newcastle operations."
Panozzo comments, “On the Ventilation contracting side Axapta has permitted micro analysis of the company’s gross margins, and a level of close scrutiny that had not previously been possible without significant manual analysis. We have been able to more effectively control project or job costings; focus on inefficiencies and set standards early on in the project phases. We have been able to fast track the collection of data from supervisors job worksheets, allowing the invoice process for completed jobs to be speeded up which has greatly improved our cash flow.”
Panozzo says, “For our manufacturing business, Axapta has provided an added transparency for on-line data review in real time. Our Product managers are able to undertake detailed data analysis with ease. They can look behind the scenes and determine in real time the impact of changes to formulations or business processes on the cost of a product and react accordingly. The batch tracking ability of the software allows us to trace the finished good back from the point of sale through the production process, down to the raw material level and Purchase Order. This is an invaluable tool in assuring a quality product.”
He continues, “Previously report customization in our Manufacturing software generally required the involvement of a specialist programmer. Axapta by contrast allows us to print directly to a file and use Microsoft Query to very quickly and effectively extract the information we need.”
SDS have installed Axapta’s Financial 1 Series (General Ledger with 5 Accounting Dimensions) Trade Series, (Sale Order Purchase Order and Inventory Management) & Logistics Series (Trade Agreements, Discounts, Bill of Materials), Master Planning, Production Package and Project Costing Module. Fosroc has licensed Axapta for some 26 users.
Looking ahead, Panozzo comments “Apart from bringing online our offices in other States, we are planning to streamline the physical data entry for production processing into Axapta by utilizing electronic interfaces with existing machinery. This will enable production-planning personnel more time to focus on the analytical requirements of the process and improve areas of inefficiency. By interfacing with PLC units on the factory floor we will provide the input data for direct data entry for Axapta Production Processing eliminating double handling of information.”
Fosroc’s annual $24 million in business turnover is derived from providing customized solutions for specific mine needs. Particularly with the resin product range manufacture occurs as customer needs arise, with delivery within 2-3 working days of orders being received. Because of the limited shelf life of many of the products, there is a small amount of stock storage on site. The company manufactures a unique range of chemical anchors, cable bolt injection grouts, high yield grouts, flexible membranes, coatings, ventilation control systems and consumables.
