Precious Metals Made Even More So
Wah Chang
When you create things like hafnium, niobium, tantalum and vanadium
you have to focus on the end product on a molecular level, which is exactly
what Wah Chang has done. Delivering refined specialty metals since 1956,
in 2004, they looked up, pulled off the safety goggles and decided to put
the same focus on their delivery system, pricing structures, and customer
relationship management systems. The perfectionists at Wah Chang then called
ACME.
Looking to standardize and integrate sales, marketing, and manufacturing
operations nationwide, Wah Chang turned to ACME to
perform an overall project audit of an Oracle Process Manufacturing
and CRM implementation, identifying project risks, integration
potential with existing proprietary systems and a map for navigating the
change as an organization.
Specifically,
the ACME audit included the
following:
- Project plan development: Assisted project
managers in developing a detailed project plan that aligned with internal
project methodologies.
ACME's project plan included key activities
around requirements definition, interface and conversion requirements,
process and system to-be design, system configuration, user testing, training
cutover planning, and ongoing evaluation. In other words, a roadmap identifying
where the highest industry standards would take them and how to get there.
- Communication
strategy: ACME developed a communication
strategy and detailed tactical plan for the internal project team, cross-project
teams, and the end user community with milestone updates/messages, owner
meetings, status reports, process flow sessions, etc.
- Project performance metrics:
ACME reviewed project drivers and identified
performance metrics to evaluate the success of the project.
- Risk assessment: ACME
mapped project scope, timeline, resources, cost, and technological
architecture to project drivers to determine feasibility of meeting
the stated objectives. Where risks existed, ACME worked
with the team to define specific activities to mitigate those risks.
Result: The client came away from the audit with
a rock-solid implementation plan, well-understood project risks, a clear,
realistic plan for mitigating those risks, and clear criteria for measurement
of project success.
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