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Isis to implement SA`s first SAP cable solution at Aberdare Cables

Johannesburg, 04 Apr 2001

Aberdare Cables (Pty) Ltd, Africa`s leading manufacturer of power, telecommunication, control and optical fibre cables, has contracted ISIS Information Systems (Pty) Ltd, to implement SAP R/3 at multiple sites country-wide. This represents the first implementation of the SAP Cable Solution in South Africa.

Isis is a member of the JSE Securities Exchange-listed Altech group of companies. Managing Director of Isis, Thinus Potgieter, said the project would provide Aberdare with a fully integrated system to manage all its information requirements in a consistent way. In addition, the SAP R/3 solution would provide Aberdare with the infrastructure to support the entry of Aberdare into e-business

Aberdare`s Head of IT, Gavin Mack, said that due to extensive growth in the group, it had become essential to improve Aberdare`s information systems. "With the acquisition of Voltex manufacturing, management realised that changes were needed for continued business support. We quickly learnt that the implementation of computer systems of this nature required special people with the right skills," he said. "We found these people within our own group. ISIS had all the skills and experience we required. Their first job was to develop a Master System Plan for Aberdare. Isis was then also contracted, as a partner, to help select the best suited Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for us," said Mack.

After investigating the information technology solutions being used by global cable manufacturers, only two suitable systems were found that could deal with the technical complexity of the cable-manufacturing environment. An exhaustive 12-month product evaluation/selection exercise was undertaken between the two vendors, and SAP was selected as the most suitable package for Aberdare. Mack said Criteria in the selection of the package included the provision of a reliable, integrated ERP solution, with specific emphasis on the specific requirements of the cable manufacturing industry. "The solution would have to provide real-time, easy access to integrated information across the Aberdare group, while addressing the business requirements of all business units," he said.

This information was needed to enable Aberdare to make informed decisions and therefore improve its operational efficiency to provide the group with a competitive edge.

He said that although preparatory work would start immediately, the actual project would only formally commence in June. The project team will consist of an Aberdare internal team together with the Isis implementation team.

ISIS, a centre of excellence in ERP integration, recently completed major implementations of SAP R/3 at Hillside Aluminium, the Saldanha Steel Mill and the Mozambique Aluminium Smelter.

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ISIS

ISIS Information Systems (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African systems integrator and software house. Established in 1984, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Altech Group (a R3 billion organisation, publicly traded at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which forms part of Altron, South Africa`s largest electrical, electronic and telecommunications group, with a R4 billion turnover in 2000).

What we can do

ISIS` involvement in numerous projects has resulted in the development of a significant level of capability in the following technologies:

  • distributed systems with client-server architecture;
  • wide and local area networking and network management;
  • database and distributed database systems;
  • graphical user interfaces;
  • Internet and Intranet capabilities;
  • integrated management information systems; and
  • real-time systems.

ISIS has a reputation for planning, designing, integrating and implementing large, complex and diversified information systems for large organisations in the government, manufacturing, telecommunications, metals, transportation and banking sectors, delivering quality solutions on time, to specification and within budget, exceeding client expectations.

Editorial contacts

Annemarie de Meyer
ISIS Information Systems
(012) 667 1411
adm1@isis.co.za