Why "The Siberian cement" refused integrators and implemented ERP?

The Siberian Cement holding refused the help of system integrators, and already several years independently are engaged in migration new ERP the Microsoft Dynamics AX platform.

The large-scale project started in 2005. Before the holding had no uniform ERP system: work was conducted in separate local applications at the enterprises. Generally it were different solutions on 1C and specialized production software.

Further in development of IT infrastructure of the enterprise it was headed for the maximum standardization and unification of software and also creation of a common information space for all divisions of holding. The new ERP platform was selected on a ratio the price quality and width to functionality.

The pilot ERP project based on AX started at the Topkinsky cement works belonging to holding. The invited system integrator, AND Project was engaged in its implementation. It is interesting that upon completion of the project the holding made the decision to continue implementation independently and refused cooperation from ANDES.

And the management of "The Siberian cement" has no claims to AND Project. Irina Zhuravleva, the Chief information officer of holding, explained TAdviser that upon termination of the first implementation the staff of holding became the certified specialists, with understanding of internal business processes and knowledge of industry specifics. "Understanding all risks, we stopped on it, probably, quite ambitious, approach. As a result the decision to buy from the external supplier only the solution and works on the standard agreement of updating was made", - she told.

The project at Topkinsky cement works so strengthened belief of an IT command of "The Siberian cement" in the forces that they coped with further automation of holding independently, having refused services of system integrators 

The tender for delivery of licenses was won by CORUS Consulting company. In holding now more than 300 licenses. The last purchase happened at the beginning of 2011: 210 licenses for 7 installations, on 30 for each of the enterprises were purchased.

One of curious features of this ERP project is also the distributed architecture: so far each automated enterprise of holding has separate installation of AX. It is connected with a variety of business processes in different assets. However it was succeeded to typify a business and tax accounting system and to create uniform base of the normative reference information of the company.

By this moment of Microsoft Dynamics AX it is implemented also in such divisions as Sibtsemservice, Siberian Cement trading house, commercial operation on "The Krasnoyarsk cement" began. Completely works of the main circuit of automation are going to finish in 2012, Irina Zhuravleva noted.

But, as Irina Zhuravleva said: "It is natural that after some time after implementation, users have new ideas on further business process automation. Strategic decision is in this respect made – at first we build main "frame", and then we increase on it new functionality. After a while – we will be ready to a new round of development of a system".

So in the next plans "the second circle", completion and optimization of the implemented systems. Besides, it is possible that implementation in "The Siberian cement" of a customer relationship management system will become the next stage of automation.