Corning Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company providing leading-edge technologies for fast-growing segments of the world`s economy, has implemented a state-of-the-art IT system at its newly built world-class Eastern Cape plant.
The comprehensive IT system enables Corning to operate effectively in a global manufacturing environment, readily communicating with other Corning operations in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Corning`s Perseverance-based plant, which produces the ceramic monolith used in catalytic converters, turned to Dimension Data for a total IT infrastructure which could facilitate effective plant operations and world-wide communication.
In a highly IT intensive manufacturing environment, Corning was looking for a strategic IT partner which could meet the group`s high standards. Dimension Data was able to provide the quality of service and total IT solution Corning required.
Dimension Data implemented a comprehensive IT infrastructure at Corning`s new plant - including computer networks (LAN and WAN), shop floor systems, security, voice, cabling, and audio and video conferencing facilities. Dimension Data also trained Corning staff on the new systems and continues to provide on-going support.
Dimension Data acted as a one-stop solution provider, enabling Corning to deal with just one point of contact, whether for voice, video or data.
Andre Gachter, general manager of the Eastern Cape plant, which is part of $7 billion Corning Incorporated`s environmental products division, says: "Corning world-wide has 33 000 employees. Corning Products SA needed the ability to connect to these people and hence needed to be on a par with the rest of the group in terms of IT and high operating standards.
"Dimension Data has the critical mass in the region, expertise, and general blend of skills to best meet our technology needs," he says.
Dimension Data supplied Corning with over 35 desktop systems, which are linked into Corning`s hub in Germany and from there into the US. By networking with the Corning group, the local operation is able to share data and maintain the same high standards as the rest of the group.
Corning also turned to Dimension Data for shop floor systems. Gachter explains that to a large extent the equipment at Corning`s new plant is controlled by computer systems. Dimension Data put in place the IT infrastructure to run this equipment.
"We chose fibre optic rather than copper cabling for our IT network," says Gachter. "This was an obvious choice - not just for the amount of data that can be transmitted by fibre optic cabling but because Corning is the world`s leading manufacturer of optical fibre.
"Dimension Data installed a 128k fibre optic line at our Perseverance plant for communication with Corning`s world wide operations. This line provides the necessary bandwidth for effective communication - including audio and video conferencing," he says.
Dimension Data implemented a top of the range videoconferencing system at the Perseverance plant for interactive, real-time communication with the global group.
"The total IT project took about three months to complete," says Kevin Hardy, customer services manager at Dimension Data PE. "During this time we worked very closely with the Corning IT team so as to adhere to their global standards.
"Corning now has a state of the art communication system that is up there with the best in the world," concludes Hardy.
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Dimension Data
Dimension Data is a leading global network services and i-Commerce solutions provider, focused on enabling enterprises, telecommunications service providers and new economy companies to communicate and transact effectively in an e-enabled environment.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is ranked in FTSE 100 and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. The Group has achieved a compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 78% in revenue and 38% in basic earnings per share over the past two years.
About Corning
Corning Incorporated creates leading-edge technologies for fast-growing segments of the world`s economy. Corning is a premier provider of optical fiber, cable, and photonic products for the telecommunications industry; high-performance glass for computers, television screens, and other information display applications; advanced optical materials for the semiconductor industry and the scientific community; ceramic substrates for the automotive industry; specialized polymer products for biotechnology applications; and other advanced materials and technologies.
Corning also competes in the environmental, scientific and life sciences markets. Corning`s innovative technology for the advanced materials market has resulted in products for lighting and emissions systems for the automotive industry, heat resistant and specialty glasses for the space shuttle, medical laboratory glass and mirror blanks used in the world`s largest observatory telescopes.