Managing Automation - October 2007 - (Page 46)

[ INDUSTRIES ] Transformation Integration TechWatch print. The software also builds on the compaoverall business process, she adds. Say, for examny’s Viewlocity supply chain visibility system to ple, that you are pulling information on current extract relevant data in real time from core ERP energy costs. What is typically entered into an and logistics systems to create a live view of ERP system is the amount of the energy bill, not carbon emissions, as well as Carbon Modeling the mix of energy or the amount consumed. and Optimization tools to help manufacturers UNFAIR ADVANTAGE develop better processes with an eye toward optimal carbon output. Not only will the process add complexity, but “In the steel industry, CarbonView could be the requirement to participate in a cap-and-trade applied to try to balance the reduction of carbon system that’s not universal for metals manufacemissions with financial performance,” says Peter turers across the globe is bound to create unfair Klein, management director, CarbonView, for Supadvantage, says Thomas Danjczek, president of ply Chain Consulting. “You would look at what the Steel Manufacturers Association, which reptypes of fuel are we using, what is the transportaresents 70% of the companies in the U.S. steel intion model — essentially, where Most metals manufacturers aren’t set are the opportunities to reduce our footprint and at what cost?” up from an IT infrastructure standLawson and Microsoft are seepoint to capture and monitor real-time ing interest from U.S. customers in applying technology to mandata. — Perry Zalevsky at SAP age carbon emissions — the first step being to establish a baseline. As part of its dustry. “Greenhouse emissions is a global issue, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative, not a U.S. issue, and it needs a global solution,” Lawson is building an extension to its ERP plathe says. “If other countries [such as China] don’t form that captures core emissions data and prohave to comply, that puts U.S. steel companies at vides BI tools, such as dashboards and reports, a disadvantage.” to help companies marry emissions data to manSeventy percent of the U.S. steel industry uses ufacturing data to make strategic business deelectric arc furnaces (EAF) to produce steel from cisions, says Jeff Frank, Lawson’s vice presirecycled materials, Danjczek notes, so those dent of marketing and champion of its CSR companies are already doing more than their effort. The company plans to release the syspart to decrease greenhouse gases. “U.S. emistem in spring 2008 for its food and beverage insions per ton of steel in terms of greenhouse dustry customers, with versions for the metals gases is approximately 40% less than elsewhere in industry, among other manufacturing sectors, to the world,” he says. follow shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, metals companies will eventually Microsoft, too, is working on an environmental have to deal with some sort of regulations and extension to its Dynamics ERP platform. The Dytrading system regarding carbon emissions. But namics Snap add-in, targeted for release early there’s still a long way to go to bring metals maknext year, will provide an environmental dashers up to speed on what’s required from an IT board on top of Microsoft Sharestandpoint, says Perry Zalevsky, metals industry Point products and technologies principal for SAP, which offers the SAP Environmanagingautomation.com and Dynamics, allowing compamental Compliance xApp composite application RELATED ARTICLES: nies to report on four Environwith partner TechniData. The xApp provides emisGoing Green mental Protection Agency indicasions management functionality and can serve as www.managingautomation.com/green tors, including greenhouse gases. a basis for trading in emissions certificates. Know Your Chemicals Regulations The process is complex, says The challenge for most metals manufacturers, www.managingautomation.com/regulations Jennifer Pollard, Microsoft’s senior Zalevsky says, is that they aren’t set up from an product manager for Dynamics, IT infrastructure standpoint to capture and monCOMPANIES MENTIONED: since much of the data that is reitor real-time data, nor are they well-versed in Lawson Software Inc. quired to get a total picture of carthe BI technology required to do proper analysis. www.managingautomation.com/Lawson bon output isn’t necessarily stored “The government will continue to strengthen Microsoft in the ERP system. “In order to the laws and lower emissions standards, and as www.managingautomation.com/Microsoft truly understand the [carbon emisthey get tighter, metals companies are going to SAP AG sions] impact, a lot more detail and have to watch closely and see where they can cut www.managingautomation.com/SAP3 information needs to be captured or make improvements from an emissions standSupply Chain Consulting and put into the ERP system,” Polpoint,” Zalevsky says. “They just don’t have the www.managingautomation/com/SCC lard says. You have to look at the data to make those decisions today.” ■ maonline Industries ma October 46 2007 Photo courtesy: SAP http://managingautomation.com http://www.managingautomation.com/green http://www.managingautomation.com/regulations http://www.managingautomation.com/Lawson http://www.managingautomation.com/Microsoft http://www.managingautomation.com/SAP3 http://www.managingautomation.com/SCC

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - October 2007

Contents Take 1 Mailbox New Selling and Fulfillment Product Leads Plan to Transform Sterling Commerce Comtrol Closes Bizarre Chapter Involving Founder New Omron COO Outlines Four-Part Growth Agenda New Mfg. ‘Czar’ Will Have a Full Plate of Issues Lawson Embraces The Trend of Fewer Upgrades Notes Wanted: A Unified Infrastructure Needed: Greater Reliability Special Report: Innovation: Why Are So Many Coming Up Short? Transforamation: Beating the Odds in Global Supply Industries: Metals: Tracking Carbon Footprints Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - October 2007

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