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IT concept for steelworks (1988-1989)



The task:

A McKinsey Corporation study forecasted considerable rationalisation potential for a steelworks if a logistics system were installed. This system was to integrate the sectors sales planning, processing of incoming orders (commercially and technically), production planning and control, stock management, order processing down to invoicing and accounting. The existing DP system (mainframe computer with local, isolated applications, telephone cable communication with batch mode, hierarchical databases) seemed to be only partly suitable. The task was therefore to develop an IT concept to map the operations in the commercial and technical sectors of the works (online) and which would provide an integrated IT solution to largely secure the fulfilment of the McKinsey forecasts.

The solution:

Firstly, a basic concept was drawn up, taking the main operating processes and the respective data into account in integrated form. Based on this basic concept, a data and function model was developed computer-aided "top-down" with software engineering methods (structured analysis for functions and data flows, data structure analysis for data modelling). A modular implementation was thus possible without the risk of interface problems and deviations from the system concept. On the one hand, this methodical approach facilitates the continual improvement of the system specification and, on the other hand, the system-compatible integration of staff suggestions and ideas. In line with the system specification, a hardware concept was developed which takes the existing solutions into account nd, in addition, accommodates the requirements and conditions prevailing in a heavy industry production plant in the best possible way. In this case, a computer network of workstations and PCs with a data server was chosen. The existing DP and operating data acquisition is integrated via a network server.

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e-mail: Vertrieb@caitec.de
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