|
HYDER ALI
is director of
information technology
for Rayonier Perform-ance
Fibers, headquartered
in Jesup, Ga.
ROBERT HENNIGAR
is an e-commerce analyst
for Rayonier,
headquartered in
Jacksonville, Fla. |
As part of a five-year plan to improve pulp quality, productivity, and business workflow (December 1999, Pulp & Paper), Rayonier has combined robust networks with a solid tier of open systems, including process automation, process information, and business systems. Backed by this foundation, Rayonier is now using Internet technologies to create a business portal that offers an integrated view of disparate systems. This portal will eventually become the vehicle for moving Ray-onier's open systems to a higher level of collaboration and commerce with customers and suppliers.
THE BUSINESS PORTAL. For the past year, Rayonier has been developing an intranet, or business, portal based on Microsoft's Distributed interNet Applications Architecture (DNA). This platform has proven capable of building scalable, secure, and manageable Internet-based applications in a cost-effective and timely manner.
DNA's component object model (COM) supports bundling of information in packets to support database and application interoperability. For example, the Business Portal at Rayonier's Jesup, Ga., mill can display detailed, summarized status information for all critical manufacturing processes, from chip delivery to finished product. The data is visible anywhere within Rayonier's wide area network, including internationally. Real-time charts tie in through COM components to the control systems, providing key performance indicators throughout the plant.
DNA's component object model (COM) supports bundling of information in packets to support database and application interoperability. For example, the Business Portal at Rayonier's Jesup, Ga., mill can display detailed, summarized status information for all critical manufacturing processes, from chip delivery to finished product. The data is visible anywhere within Rayonier's wide area network, including internationally. Real-time charts tie in through COM components to the control systems, providing key performance indicators throughout the plant.
The Business Portal is not limited to pulling information from control systems; it is also tied into the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system (SAP) and the transportation logistics application (MetaFreight), as well as human resources applications (such as PeopleSoft). The portal allows dynamic production planning, enabling comparison of the production schedule and order confirmations so the transportation department has timely feedback. Also, custom reporting applications let sophisticated end users develop customized on-demand reports such as comprehensive order status or on-time delivery. Overall, the Busi-ness Portal has transformed disparate data sources into integrated information for decision making.
CUSTOMER/SUPPLIER FACING TECHNOLOGIES. The current focus is on extending benefits of timely information across the supply chain. For example, Rayonier uses Microsoft's Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (webDAV) to create Web storage systems accessible to Rayonier, customers, and suppliers as easily as networked drives are accessible to internal employees.
One current use of a "Web drive" is for sharing Excel spreadsheets containing product-related quality data with customers. The data is simultaneously visible to both Rayonier and its customer for online changes. Rayonier is capitalizing on the fruits of its intranet work by extending this functionality to its customers and suppliers by means of an extranet. The Performance Fibers Extranet will allow customers to help themselves by checking on order status, viewing documents, displaying quality information, and placing orders—features already enabled on the intranet. Microsoft COM components seamlessly integrate this extranet site with Lotus Notes for workflow, thereby routing customer feedback to appropriate individuals and escalating email to ensure a timely response.
B2B INTEGRATION. Although the Performance Fibers Extranet will have the capability of accepting orders via a Web page, Rayonier believes the future will be direct integration with customers and suppliers to support cross-application and cross-business processes, as well as seamless sharing of information. Rayonier is currently utilizing extensible markup language (XML) technology to re-ceive purchase orders from a major customer and return invoices by directly linking the ERP systems. An XML mapper provides a means of translating documents from business partners' IT systems to a standard Rayonier format, and a workflow processor then handles the business decisions required by the document in fulfilling the order.
Another example of b2b integration is the electronic receipt of ship advice transactions for chemicals. A major provider of caustic for Rayonier currently sends a ship advice transaction electronically for each shipment of caustic. The ship advice transaction is then routed to the plant gates where the chemical management system validates the contents of a vehicle upon delivery. The model is currently being expanded to other major chemical suppliers.
BUSINESS IMPACT. The Business Portal is all about creating low-cost, value-added universal communications. Inventory levels, production schedules, and delivery dates are available to all who need to know. Designated users can track the manufacturing process from raw material receipt through delivery of product. Ultimately, the Business Portal will make it easier to do business with Rayonier—thus increasing customer loyalty, decreasing transaction costs, and reducing the cost of servicing the customer while still adding value for customers.
|
