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: itmanager@qer.com.au

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:

info@sharpsolutions.com.au

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.

Warranty, service and support of non-IBM

products are provided directly to you by the

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not be excluded or limited, IBM makes no

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References in this publication to IBM products

and services do not imply that IBM intends to

make them available in all countries in which

IBM operates. This publication is for general

guidance only

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Maximo, are trademarks or trademarks of

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