The Challenge In the rapidly changing business
environment of the resources and energy sector, QER needed access to asset management features available in the latest version of the IBM® Maximo® Asset Management software. An integrated asset management system with procure to pay and an integrated contracts module was key to QER requirements. QER had been using an earlier version of IBM Maximo Asset Management software and needed to upgrade rapidly without business interruption.
Solution With the assistance of IBM
Business Partner* Sharp Business Solutions, QER upgraded to the latest version of IBM Maximo Asset Management software, assisting it to accurately manage key assets in the QER Technology Demonstration Plant. Maximo is designed to enable fast and accurate management of assets and seamlessly facilitate supplier and procurement management.
Benefits The end-to-end asset management
system has already delivered improvements in staff productivity and significant reductions in internal IT costs for QER. The resources and energy company is now working with Sharp Business Solutions to achieve further productivity gains through process automation.
Key learnings Arobustprojectframeworkiscritical
forMaximosoftwareprojects
Welldocumentedprocesseshelp
toensuresuccess
In-depthtestingisimportant
Ongoingdatamanagementis
importanttoensurecleandata
IBM Australia
Overview
QER improves asset management and reduces IT costs
“InthenextphasewewillleveragefurtherprocessautomationincludingintegrationwithourPermittoWorksystem.”
StephenMyatt,ManagerBusinessSystemsandIT,QER,
www.qer.com.au
QERQER is an integrated resources and
energy company based in Queensland,
Australia. QER holds mining and other
tenement rights to several of the largest
and potentially most productive oil
shale deposits in Australia.
The production process for shale to
oil has been proven on a small scale.
QER is now working on going into
production on a larger scale, developing
a Technology Demonstration Plant to
further develop production processes.
The business problemTo build a sustainable new industry
of global significance takes drive,
commitment and passion. QER has
invested heavily in analysis of oil shale
processing technologies and has
selected the Paraho II technology
which it considers to be the most
appropriate for delivering a commercially-
viable and environmentally-
sustainable operation.
QER is focused on ensuring all
aspects of operations are managed
to world’s best practice in order to
demonstrate the capability and value
of shale oil production in Queensland.
Efficient and accurate asset management
is central to that objective.
Recognising the need for a high level
asset management solution, QER set
about identifying its detailed needs.
The company identified business process
requirements and IT architectural
requirements as being equally critical
to the business.
QER had been using a much earlier
version of the Maximo Asset
Management software and was
concerned that the upgrade process
would not be transparent due to
specific data cleansing requirements.
QER was also concerned that
where possible. Stephen Myatt, QER’s
Manager Business Systems and IT,
explained, “The Maximo web-based
technology architecture is in line with
QER’s IT philosophy and enables easier
and quicker access to the system by
the users. In addition, the web based
approach helps lower QER’s IT
infrastructure and operational costs
associated with the Maximo solution.”
The Maximo software’s ability to
manage contracts and to integrate
with third-party project planning tools
was also central to the decision.
Sharp Business Solutions scoped
the upgrade project into phases to
meet QER’s business and financial
implementing changes to the Maximo
software user interfaces and required
integration with other applications
might delay the project.
Solution – IBM and Sharp Business SolutionsSharp Business Solutions, a leader in
Maximo Asset Management software
implementations, was introduced to
QER by IBM to provide a lead role in
assisting QER to evaluate the business’
asset management requirements.
Following an extensive review, it was
determined that the Maximo Asset
Management software met all QER
business requirements, as well as
meeting its architectural philosophy
of utilising web-based technology
“IBM’sMaximoAssetManagementprovideduswithimmediatestaffproductivitybenefitsthroughanimprovedprocure-to-payprocess.”
StephenMyatt,ManagerBusinessSystemsandIT,QER,www.qer.com.au
requirements. Sharp Business Solutions’
Maximo software Implementation
Framework combines a best-practice
project framework with extensive
on-the-ground experience delivering
successful Maximo software projects.
Stephen explained, “Sharp Business
Solutions demonstrated deep
understanding of the project
requirements for Maximo installation.
Their Implementation Framework
provided a strong roadmap for the
project and significantly reduced
the risks associated with the
implementation of Maximo at QER.”
Business benefits for QERThe end-to-end asset management
system has already delivered
improvements in staff productivity and
significant reductions in internal IT
costs for QER. Staff productivity has
also been dramatically improved through
streamlined procure-to-pay processes.
QER is now working with Sharp
Business Solutions to deliver further
productivity gains through process
systems and services. The company
has a depth of knowledge in the
Maximo Product Suite gained over
many years of implementing Maximo
software in different industry sectors.
Sharp Business Solutions is an
Advanced IBM Business Partner* and
an expert in the IBM Maximo product.
www.sharpsolutions.com.au
About IBMIBM Australia is a leading supplier of
information technology, software and
services in Australia, helping customers
of all sizes to adapt and prosper in
the online world. IBM Maximo Asset
Management software is designed to
effectively capture and analyse asset
and work data, which can enable you
to manage all of your asset types on
a single software platform. Built on a
service-oriented architecture (SOA),
Maximo Asset Management can deliver
a comprehensive view of all asset
types, their conditions and locations,
and the work processes that support
them, to help provide you with optimal
planning, control, audit, and compliance
capability. www.ibm.com
automation, including integration with
its Permit to Work system. As Stephen
explains, the benefits are numerous:
“IBM’s Maximo Asset Management
provides us with immediate staff
productivity benefits through an
improved procure to pay process.
In the next phase of the project we
will leverage further process automation
including integration with Permit
to Work system.”
About Sharp Business SolutionsSharp Business Solutions helps
customers to obtain the best possible
return on their investment in assets
through the use of asset management
“SharpBusinessSolutionsdemonstrateddeepunderstandingoftheprojectrequirementsforMaximoinstallation.TheirImplementationFrameworkprovidedastrongroadmapfortheprojectandsignificantlyreducedtherisksassociatedwiththeimplementationofMaximoatQER.”
StephenMyatt,ManagerBusinessSystemsandIT,QER,www.qer.com.au
For further information from IBM If you would like to speak with an
IBM Sales representative please
call 132 426 (in Austalia) or
0800 801 800 (in New Zealand)
or visit us at:
ibm.com/au
ibm.com/nz
For further information on QER If you would like to speak with
someone from QER please call
07 3222 0600 (in Austalia),
email: [email protected]
or visit: www.qer.com.au
For further information from Sharp Business Solutions If you would like to speak with
someone from Sharp Business
Solutions please call 1800 508 504
(in Austalia), email:
or visit: www.sharpsolutions.com.au
*’Business Partner’ is used informally and does
not imply a legal partnership.
This customer story is based on information
provided by QER and Sharp Business Solutions.
IBM does not attest to its accuracy. The case
study illustrates how one organisation uses
IBM products and the benefits it may have
achieved. Many factors have contributed to the
results and benefits described. IBM does not
guarantee comparable results elsewhere.
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