Asset Management Company

AMR Assists a Third Party Integrator Implement a New Global Maintenance System For a Leading Pharmaceutical Company

A nationally recognized third party integrator was charged with a multi-million dollar implementation of a new global maintenance database system for a leading pharmaceutical company. This new system required very detailed plant location specifics that necessitated both plant layout and asset validation.

In particular, two facilities were in danger of falling behind schedule. Based on the recommendation of the pharmaceutical company, AMR was tasked with validating the plant layout and fortifying the associated asset information. The scope included a large number of data fields for an estimated 20,000 assets spanning over three million square feet.

The Challenge

The integrator had attempted to complete this project internally but realized that without outside help the implementation would fall behind schedule disrupting the global rollout. AMR was recommended to validate the data. The layout validation was critical to the successful implementation and brought to light inconsistencies in the available legacy data.

AMR Inventory and Reconciliation Service

AMR provided a comprehensive solution that satisfied the needs of the integrator and leading pharmaceutical company. This solution followed AMR's unique delivery model focused on verifiable and accurate results delivered in a professionally executed manner. AMR's SAS 70 Type II Certification was a necessary requirement to assure the client's confidence in the final results.

The AMR Model

Planning

AMR dedicated significant resources during the planning phase of the project to ensure that all system implementation objectives were achieved.

AMR developed an audit tool used by the integrator to audit the work performed. This tool enabled the integrator to scan barcodes, view and flag as necessary the data gathered from those assets, including location, description, serial number, model number, other asset data, and any existing property control or maintenance tags. Since it was crucial to the success of the system implementation validating the plant layouts during the physical inventory was required.

Additional asset attribute information included preventative maintenance schedules, equipment calibration statistics, and operational specifications important for the maintenance system database.

Physical Inventory

Over a four week period, AMR completed the inventory by placing barcoded asset tags on 15,035 assets (4,965 less than the estimated 20,000 or 24.8%). AMR utilized different tagging methods for assets that proved difficult to tag, utilizing wire tied tagging, indirect tagging, and in limited circumstances, ghost tagging methods. Along with the inventory task, plant layouts were validated and documented for the implementation team.

The Results AMR Delivered

The results of the inventory audit were well above the expectations of the integrator and the pharmaceutical company. AMR delivered key validated data to the system implementation team that ensured the success of the project. It resulted in the following achievements:

  • Planning & inventory effort completed in four weeks
  • Integrator maintained original rollout schedule
  • Integrator reviewed data throughout the process to verify data integrity and quality
  • Integrator gained the value-added layout verification critical to implementation success
  • AMR completed the engagement ahead of schedule

Conclusions

The vendor realized the value of AMR's ability to complete its assignment within a specific timetable with clearly defined objectives and data validation criteria. The fact that AMR was employed by the integrator enabled the integrator to apply its critical resources to key areas of the implementation. The quality of the data and the inclusion of key attribute information for each asset led to a successful launch of the global maintenance system. Other benefits included:

  • An accurate accounting of all assets housed within the 3,000,000 square feet of space
  • Incorrect and inadequate asset data imported from the legacy databases were not needed nor propagated to the new system
  • The promise of the software solution being implemented by the integrator was realized to the fullest extent possible
  • Budget overruns of an estimated $600,000 were avoided
  • System deployment was achieved on time