Information Builders Case Studies Case Paper Achieves “One-Click” Analytics with WebFOCUS

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	Case Paper Achieves “One-Click” Analytics with WebFOCUS Information Builders

Case Paper Achieves “One-Click” Analytics with WebFOCUS

Information Builders

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries	Paper & Pulp
Applicable Functions	Discrete Manufacturing
Use Cases	Inventory Management Predictive Maintenance
Services	Data Science Services System Integration
Challenge	Case Paper, a paper converter and merchant serving the printing and packaging industry, was facing challenges in accessing and utilizing data from IBM System i systems and other sources. The company needed better analytic capabilities for its entrepreneurial operating system management methodology. The company was relying heavily on Excel to get valuable information out of these systems. This process became even more cumbersome once newer versions of Excel were introduced, discontinuing many of the reporting features employees were utilizing. It would take developers as long as six months to merge the needed data from various IBM System i databases and create reports. Running those reports tied systems up for as long as an hour, preventing staff from efficiently processing transactions or entering data. Read More
About Customer	Case Paper is a paper converter and merchant serving the printing and packaging industry in U.S. domestic markets, as well as Canada, Mexico, and South America. The company keeps an extensive inventory of more than 75,000 tons of product inside 1.25 million square feet of storage space. Its state-of-the-art operation for converting, warehousing, shipping, and logistics runs in several locations across North America. The company adheres to the EOS methodology of management, which combines principles of leadership, management, and accountability to help businesses reach their full potential. Read More
Solution	Case Paper partnered with technology consulting firm BDK to address BI and analytics requirements, while streamlining the management of the IBM System i environment and aiding in the growing amount of programming work. BDK recommended WebFOCUS and built a series of InfoApps – interactive analytic apps that empower business users to obtain quick answers to critical questions – which allow Case Paper executives to track KPIs in inventory, purchasing, sales, and other important areas of the business. Users select parameters, apply filters, drill-down to more detail, or select from various output formats to meet their specific information needs. The insights provided by these InfoApps can run on a scheduled or event-driven basis, or automatically burst to specific users. Case Paper is also implementing Red Hulk, an application designed specifically for the paper industry that measures the time utilized for specific tasks in production. This helps the company monitor downtime, waste, and other important metrics aimed at maintaining peak efficiency. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Applicable Industries

Paper & Pulp

Applicable Functions

Discrete Manufacturing

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Predictive Maintenance

Services

Data Science Services

System Integration

Challenge

Case Paper, a paper converter and merchant serving the printing and packaging industry, was facing challenges in accessing and utilizing data from IBM System i systems and other sources. The company needed better analytic capabilities for its entrepreneurial operating system management methodology. The company was relying heavily on Excel to get valuable information out of these systems. This process became even more cumbersome once newer versions of Excel were introduced, discontinuing many of the reporting features employees were utilizing. It would take developers as long as six months to merge the needed data from various IBM System i databases and create reports. Running those reports tied systems up for as long as an hour, preventing staff from efficiently processing transactions or entering data.

About Customer

Case Paper is a paper converter and merchant serving the printing and packaging industry in U.S. domestic markets, as well as Canada, Mexico, and South America. The company keeps an extensive inventory of more than 75,000 tons of product inside 1.25 million square feet of storage space. Its state-of-the-art operation for converting, warehousing, shipping, and logistics runs in several locations across North America. The company adheres to the EOS methodology of management, which combines principles of leadership, management, and accountability to help businesses reach their full potential.

Solution

Case Paper partnered with technology consulting firm BDK to address BI and analytics requirements, while streamlining the management of the IBM System i environment and aiding in the growing amount of programming work. BDK recommended WebFOCUS and built a series of InfoApps – interactive analytic apps that empower business users to obtain quick answers to critical questions – which allow Case Paper executives to track KPIs in inventory, purchasing, sales, and other important areas of the business. Users select parameters, apply filters, drill-down to more detail, or select from various output formats to meet their specific information needs. The insights provided by these InfoApps can run on a scheduled or event-driven basis, or automatically burst to specific users. Case Paper is also implementing Red Hulk, an application designed specifically for the paper industry that measures the time utilized for specific tasks in production. This helps the company monitor downtime, waste, and other important metrics aimed at maintaining peak efficiency.

Impact #1	Improved ability to access and interact with information increases productivity, enhances budgeting, and helps company respond to market changes faster.
Impact #2	One of the biggest benefits of InfoApps is a sharp increase in productivity.
Impact #3	Improved access to historical inventory data means that users now view past and present inventory status at any time.

Impact #1

Improved ability to access and interact with information increases productivity, enhances budgeting, and helps company respond to market changes faster.

Impact #2

One of the biggest benefits of InfoApps is a sharp increase in productivity.

Impact #3

Improved access to historical inventory data means that users now view past and present inventory status at any time.

Benefit #1	The entire process of gathering data for budgeting which took four or five days is now completed in just a few short hours.
Benefit #2	The sales InfoApp replaced 20 unique ranking reports and 26 unique trending reports that used to take days to compile.

Benefit #1

The entire process of gathering data for budgeting which took four or five days is now completed in just a few short hours.

Benefit #2

The sales InfoApp replaced 20 unique ranking reports and 26 unique trending reports that used to take days to compile.

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Overview

Case Paper Achieves “One-Click” Analytics with WebFOCUS

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit