| Mintera Develops Organization-wide Knowledge Base
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By Greg Belkin
Supply Chain Alert
Week of July 15, 2003
The 40G transport solution provider for metro-core, regional, long-haul and ultra long-haul optical networks standardizes supply chain information into a single, shared source.
In order to reduce time to market on new product introductions and enable faster turn-around time for product enhancements, Massachusetts-based Mintera Optical Networks Inc., recently decided to develop a single, shared source. Previously, the company’s engineering, operations, document and quality control team had manually tracked design and operations data in separate systems. This required the synchronization of disparate databases, straining corporate resources.
Thus, the manufacturer decided to implement a product lifecycle management (PLM) solution. Mintera determined that the new data management solution would need to integrate with existing ERP and engineering systems, as well as be flexible and highly customizable, and require minimal transition time with little disruption to current development processes.
By implementing and integrating the Open API Platform from Massachusetts-based Omnify Software Inc., Mintera has been able to streamline supply chain data management and ease resource demands caused by information management activities.
Implementation
During 2002 and 2003, Mintera and Omnify Software took the following steps to improve document management procedures:
- Mintera formally recognized the need to replace its time-intensive document management processes from multiple, ad-hoc databases with a single, shared resource. After a product review, Mintera chose Omnify Software based on the vendor’s ability to support its specific business challenges, such as routing approvals for new parts requests, symbol checking, engineering change orders, and automatically approving manufacturers list changes.
- Mintera and Omnify Software established an implementation project team to develop a project success roadmap. This included representatives from development, such as engineers to ensure the tool integration would be successful, supply chain, and engineering services, covering the new par loads, revision tracking, and change order management.
- Omnify Software provided Mintera with pre-release beta code and began assessing the needs of the logistics provider. Existing databases were migrated into the new solution, and Mintera was trained on best-use procedures.
- Omnify Software rewrote system scripts based on the individualized specifications of Mintera. The companies conducted a period of systems testing and review.
- After a series of final testing, Mintera accepted a pilot project. Several Mintera engineers were selected to participate in first installations based on availability.
- Minter installed version 1.0 of the Open API Platform. The release focused on monitoring changes to documents during multiple points in the data management supply chain.
- Following the addition of a secure Web server, Mintera provided system access to its primary contract manufacturer.
- Version 2.0 of the Open API Platform was installed on Mintera’s systems. The release focused on further increasing visibility of the data management process.
Benefits
Mintera noted a 50 percent decrease in its new part request cycle, a 70 percent decrease in database searching cycle, reduced time to market, and enhanced communication with trading partners by automating communications processes. Other benefits included a quick implementation timeline and a seamless integration with existing data management processes.
Future Plans
In addition to increasing the number of suppliers using the Omnify Software management solution, Mintera plans to further increase the functionality of the application, such as a version 2.5 upgrade scheduled to take place in Q3 2003.
Takeaway
Mintera, recognizing the need to streamline document management processes into a single, shared source, employed a supply chain management solution focusing on product lifecycle management. As a result, the company has noted specific benefits relating to process management, such as decreased data access procedures and new parts request cycles. Retailers, suppliers and manufacturers alike should take note of these benefits, as improved document management can affect all parts of the supply chain.
Press Contact
Alaine Bettencourt / Omnify Software / 978-988-3800 /
alaine@omnifysoft.com
Stephanie Beagan / PAN Communications / 978-474-1900 /
omnify@pancomm.com
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