Computer Sciences Corporation in South Africa has won its second Local Area Network (LAN) re-engineering contract this year for international resources giant BHP Billiton.
The latest contract, worth in excess of R8-million, involves total replacement of the LANs at Hillside Aluminium, Strang Rennies Metal Terminal and Bayside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. Work has already started and is due for completion in April 2003.
CSC in South Africa`s first major LAN re-engineering contract at the Johannesburg office of BHP Billiton started rolling out at the end of October. Internationally, CSC is a major provider of IT services to BHP Billiton.
Rob Westwood, Business Solutions Manager of BHPB Aluminium SA, says the LAN refurbishment at Richards Bay brings in new technology which is better able to support the future business needs of the company.
"We`re replacing old technology with network infrastructure that is robust and flexible and enables us to deliver powerful new applications to the desktop faster. It also puts us in a better position to share information with colleagues around the world."
Mark Austin, manager of the mining vertical (division) at CSC in South Africa, says skilled management of the re-engineering of the LANs at Richards Bay will ensure that production in this around-the-clock operation is not adversely affected during implementation.
"BHP Billiton`s critical smelter operations cannot afford unscheduled network downtimes so our installation plan will apply all the elements of our international best practice that CSC has used with the group internationally."
CSC in South Africa won the BHP Billiton LAN re-engineering contracts after a rigorous selection process determined its team had good technical skills, says Westwood. This was complemented by easy access to the international expertise invested in the companies` relationship. Competitive pricing and the quality of after-sales support contributed to CSC winning the deals.
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BHP Billiton is the world`s largest diversified resource company by market capitalisation of about US$35 billion. Formed from a merger between BHP and Billiton, BHP Billiton operates as a single unified entity, with the same Board of Directors committed to delivering on the expectations of shareholders. The company, achieved through a dual listed companies (DLC) structure, brings together cashflow generation, a strong balance sheet and enhanced access to global financial markets.
BHP Billiton has an industry leading position in major commodity businesses, including aluminium, iron ore, copper, energy coal and metallurgical coal. In addition, the portfolio of brownfield and greenfield growth projects provides a range of opportunities for future investment and expansion.
BHP Billiton has operations in the three key resources regions of Africa, Australia and Latin America, as well as a presence in the markets of North America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, BHP Billiton has a significant corporate management presence in London, as well as corporate centres in Johannesburg, South Africa and Houston, USA.
CSC in South Africa
CSC offers the South African market a wide range of services, including Systems Integration, Application and Infrastructure Outsourcing, and Business Process Outsourcing, as well as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Financial Services Solutions. By combining international best practices with local expertise and knowledge, CSC is one of the fastest growing IT companies in South Africa. A leading IT services provider, CSC adds value through its collaborative approach to delivering fast, flexible solutions.
CSC opened its doors in South Africa in November 1999 and already boasts over 500 employees across South Africa, with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. It is continuing to expand rapidly in South Africa and is extending its services to the rest of Africa. For more information, contact (021) 529 6500 or 011 686 5400.
CSC
CSC, one of the world`s leading consulting and information and technology (IT) services firms, helps clients in industry and government achieve strategic and operational results through the use of technology. The company`s success is based on its culture of working collaboratively with clients to develop innovative technology strategies and solutions that address specific business challenges.
Having guided clients through every major wave of change in information technology since 1959, CSC combines the newest technologies with its capabilities in consulting, systems design and integration, IT and business process outsourcing, applications software, and Web and application hosting to meet the individual needs of global corporations and organizations. With more than 66,000 employees in locations worldwide, CSC had revenues of $11.5 billion for the 12 months ended June 28, 2002. It is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. For more information, visit the company`s Web site at www.csc.com.
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