epic energy gains immediate productivity benefits from maximo
TRANSCRIPT
TheChallengeEpic Energy, one of Australia’s largest gas transmission companies, uses Maximo Asset Management, tightly integrated with its financial system. Its Maximo Asset Management version was outdated, but internal plans to upgrade the system had faltered. The business sponsor recognised the urgent requirement to upgrade to take advantage of enhanced Maximo features, and sought external help.
SolutionThrough its experience with Maximo upgrades, and its value-added
Implementation Framework, Sharp Business Solutions was able to propose a cost-effective project with timeframes that met Epic Energy’s operational requirements.
BenefitEpic Energy now enjoys the confidence that it is running a latest release product, helping to reduce business risk. Users are also benefiting from the new features introduced to Maximo Asset Management, such as the ’Start Centre‘ dashboard, which enables users to display just the data that’s relevant to them, decreasing the need to run daily reports, and increasing productivity.
IBM Australia
Overview
Epic Energy gains immediate productivity benefits from Maximo upgrade
Key Learnings Forspecialist,business-critical
projects,engagingspecialistscanaddvalueandreducecostcomparedwithinternalinitiatives.
Atestedframeworkormethodologyincreasesconfidenceanddecreasesprojectrisk.
Aphasedapproachtodeliveringthesolutiondeliversbusinesssuccessinashortertimeframeandlaysthegroundworkforfutureimprovements.
Epic EnergyEpic Energy is one of Australia’s
largest gas transmission companies.
It owns and operates the Moomba-
to-Adelaide Pipeline System and the
South-East (Katnook) Pipeline System
in South Australia, the Pilbara Energy
Pipeline System in Western Australia
and the South West Queensland
Pipeline (including the QSN Link)
in Queensland.
Epic Energy’s end use gas transportation
customers are generally base load
electricity generators, gas distribution
companies and industrial gas users
and include AGL, Origin Energy, Santos,
Energex, OneSteel and BHPB. The
company offers a range of specialist
services including gas and petroleum
pipeline management, operation and
maintenance; gas engine maintenance;
provision and maintenance of gas
An internal project to upgrade Maximo
had faltered, mostly due to resourcing
issues. Epic Energy decided to
investigate who could help, not only
with the upgrade, but with associated
support for re-engineering business
processes to take advantage of new
Maximo functionality, training users in
the new version and more.
Solution – IBM and Sharp Business SolutionsJames Manna, Project Manager at
Sharp Business Solutions, designed an
aggressive three-month implementation
plan. Sharp Business Solutions’
Implementation Framework provided
Epic Energy with confidence that the
upgrade would proceed smoothly,
without adversely affecting
business operations.
“Sharp Business Solutions were
flexible in their approach to the project.
Joining after the start of the project
they adapted to meet its needs –
integrating well into the project team.
Their Implementation Framework
provided a strong roadmap that
enabled the project to be delivered
on a tight timeframe with no slippage
or cost overruns,” said Terry Jones,
Senior Business Systems Analyst
at Epic Energy.
Epic Energy was keen to reduce the
need for customisation, so Sharp
Business Solutions helped them
to modify some of their business
processes to enable best practice
in the use of the latest version of
Maximo Asset Management.
gathering and processing; corrosion
assessment, repair and management;
and remote equipment monitoring
and control.
The Business ProblemMaintenance of assets is a core
business activity for Epic Energy, but
its operations were not benefiting from
the latest features of Maximo Asset
Management. Gabriel Egan, the Epic
Energy business sponsor, realised that
an upgrade to the latest version would
offer opportunities for enhanced asset
and financial management processes.
“IBM’sMaximoAssetManagementprovideduswithimmediatestaffproductivitybenefitsthroughtheMaximo‘StartCentre’ordashboardservicesthatcanbecustomisedforeachindividualuser.”
TerryJones,SeniorBusinessSystemsAnalyst,EpicEnergy
The Sharp Business Solutions and
Epic Energy teams complemented
each other, with the Sharp consultants
delivering project management,
business process review, testing,
training and report writing; while the
Epic Energy team changed business
data structures as required for
migration to the new version of
Maximo Asset Management.
Business Benefits for Epic EnergyEpic Energy rapidly started receiving
a return on its investment. “IBM’s
Maximo Asset Management provided
us with immediate staff productivity
benefits through the Maximo ‘Start
Centre’ or dashboard services that
can be customised for each individual
user,” says Terry Jones, Senior
Business Systems Analyst.
Epic Energy now enjoys:
• Enhanced functionality that
streamlines asset management
• Reduced operational risk and
lower ongoing costs
• Ongoing support from a trusted
business partner* who can help
them extend the system as
required to support emerging
business needs
“Maximo’s web based architecture has
helped lower our IT infrastructure and
operational costs,” said Gabriel Egan,
Manager Information Technology,
Epic Energy.
Epic Energy is also using a training
video developed by Sharp Business
Maximo Asset Management system,
according to Gabriel Egan. “In the
next phase we will leverage further
improvement to the management of
our assets, reporting systems and
management of training plans.”
Solutions, which ensures new users
receive the same high-quality training
that was provided during the
upgrade process.
The company is now planning to
extend the benefits of upgrading its
“SharpBusinessSolutionswereflexibleintheirapproachtotheproject.Joiningafterthestartoftheprojecttheyadaptedtomeetitsneeds–integratingwellintotheprojectteam.TheirImplementationFrameworkprovidedastrongroadmapthatenabledtheprojecttobedeliveredonatighttimeframewithnoslippageorcostoverruns.”
TerryJones,SeniorBusinessSystemsAnalyst,EpicEnergy
“Inthenextphasewewillleveragefurtherimprovementtothemanagementofourassets,reportingsystemsandmanagementoftrainingplans.”
GabrielEgan,ManagerInformationTechnology,EpicEnergy
About Sharp Business SolutionsSharp Business Solutions helps
customers obtain the best possible
return on their investment in assets
through the use of asset management
systems and services. The company
has a depth of knowledge in the Maximo
product suite, gained over many years
of implementing Maximo in different
industry sectors. Sharp Business
Solutions is an Advanced IBM Business
Partner*. 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. Maximo Asset
Management unifies comprehensive
asset life cycle and maintenance
management on a single platform.
www.ibm.com
For further information from IBM If you would like to speak with an
IBM Sales representative please
call 132 426 (in Australia) or
0800 801 800 (in New Zealand)
or visit us at:
ibm.com/au
ibm.com/nz
For further information on Sharp Business Solutions If you would like to speak with
someone from Sharp Business
Solutions please call 1800 508 504,
email: [email protected] visit: www.sharpsolutions.com.au
For further information on Epic Energy If you would like to speak with
someone from Epic Energy please
call +61 3 8626 8400 or visit:
www.epicenergy.com.au
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