Navision software used in Oranjemund

SACS Africon Namibia joint venture (SAJV) is using Navision software to manage the day-to-day maintenance functions of the basic infrastructure in the Oranjemund diamond mining town.

Oranjemund is located at the Orange River mouth on the north bank in Namibia. A `no go area` for the average visitor, the town exists purely for the diamond industry and even though there is a border post between SA and Namibia, only people with permits are allowed in.

Oranjemund is part of the NAMDEB mining development, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers. The mine is one of the largest mines of its type in Namibia.

In keeping with its policy to concentrate on core business activities, NAMDEB decided to outsource various maintenance services in Oranjemund to SAJV. The initial contract is for a five-year period and includes the maintenance of the following infrastructure: the water reticulation network, sewage conveyance and purification, the low-voltage electrical distribution network, road network and buildings (eg houses, sports clubs and company buildings). Africon, which is also a Navision Solution Centre, chose the integrated business management solution Navision Attain as the preferred system for the project.

"Oranjemund consists of around 1 000 houses, and about 2 000 maintenance call outs are received each month," says Africon`s Tom Koekemoer. Navision Attain successfully manages the time taken and costs incurred for each maintenance job in one integrated application. "Alternative business management solutions were either incapable of handling the project requirements, or were simply not cost-effective enough."

Owing to the flexibility of Navision, very little customisation was needed and the application was implemented on time and within budget. Additionally, says Koekemoer, this simplifies support and upgrading issues.

Koekemoer says plans are also on the cards to integrate Navision with NAMDEB`s back office SAP solution (which will further streamline management of the maintenance process) and with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to facilitate preventative maintenance planning.

"Oranjemund serves as a perfect example of how Navision can be successfully used by local authorities and municipalities to manage the maintenance on infrastructure," says Navision South Africa managing director Keith Mullan.