Coca-Cola Canners, the largest carbonated soft drink canning facility in Southern Africa, has successfully implemented Maximo, the work and asset management solution for maintenance and inventory control at its Wadeville plant.
The business solution implemented is in line with the Coca-Cola Company`s international endorsement of Maximo management principles.
The Wadeville plant manufactures in excess of 24 million cases (24 cans per case) of Coca-Cola cans per year, distributed throughout Gauteng, Northern Province, North West, Mpumalanga and parts of the Free State. One of the canning lines at Wadeville is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere with a capacity of processing 2000 cans per minute. Paul Naud'e, Finance and Logistics Manager at the plant, says improved data integrity and improved inventory control are two immediate benefits that were realised with the implementation of Maximo`s inventory control module at the end of July.
"The relational database structure of Maximo ensures that data integrity is maintained. Data integrity is verified on a monthly basis using custom-built month-end reports."
According to Naud'e Coca-Cola Canners decided to invest in Maximo because they needed a more reliable management solution. "Our previous system, a clipper based custom built system, was not year 2000 compliant and had loopholes, whereas Maximo is an advanced system with better controls that meet Atlanta (Coca-Cola Company head office) audit requirements.
"Its ease of use, flexibility and ability to interface with our financial system, JD Edwards, also counted in Maximo`s favour."
Coca-Cola Canners initially implemented MAXIMO`s maintenance module to improve preventive maintenance as well as work management. After this module was successfully commissioned the inventory module was implemented during a three-month project The project was completed "on time and within budget with the core requirements being met. MAXIMO was already used at the end of June and July to run inventory month end reports for head office financial reporting. It was fully reconciled", Naud'e said.
"By using Maximo`s Economic Order Quantity function stock levels will be held at an optimum level. This will ensure that we reach a balance between stockholding and the reduction of production stoppages," he said.
According to Naud'e there was a very good relationship with MST consultant Gerhard Steyn. "He was pro-active in addressing challenges."
Steyn says with the implementation of Maximo and its inherent business processes, Coca Cola Canners can be sure of an effective system that is on the forefront of technology while at the same time very practical. "The integration of Maximo into Coca-Cola Canners` business processes happened without interrupting operations at the plant."
There is opportunity in the near future to roll out Maximo`s inventory module to Coco-Cola Canners` plants in Epping, Cape Town and Pinetown, Durban. Both these plants have already implemented Maximo`s maintenance management module.
Share