Solution
Needed
Web based business workflow application to track and manage
requests from customers for custom Anritsu components and instruments.
Problem
Description
Anritsu had an existing application to track and manage
special component and instrument requests. The application had the
following problems, which required the development of a completely
new application:
- The
old application was written in Access 2.0 and was out of date.
- The
code was not maintainable and the backend database was not reliable.
- Users
had to install the application & components to their computers
in order to run it. The installation process was not reliable.
- The
email notifications were not working.
- The
cost estimation method was not meeting the user requirements.
- Most
of the actions in the program very performed very slowly.
- There
were no administration features (e.g. adding users, changing parameters
etc).
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Goals
CodeServ recommended implementing a completely new Web-based
application to meet the following requirements:
- Reliable,
robust, scalable and user-friendly system.
- Minimum
dependency to client side. Only browser is needed to access the
application.
- Features
to meet new user requirements (e.g. cost estimation, reports,
etc).
- Fast
response time.
- Component-based
application design.
- Easy
to manage application.
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Project
Development
CodeServ engineers utilized a 4-step project development
methodology: What to do, How to do, Implementation and Roll-out
phases.
"What
to do" Phase
CodeServ staff interviewed with the users of the old system to get
a better understanding of their business processes, as well as requirements
for the new Web based system. We installed the old application to
get a feel about its functionality. We didn't get into technical
details or discussions during this stage, since at CodeServ, we
strongly believe that understanding business requirements is different
than pushing a technical solution.
"How to Do" Phase
Codeserv Staff reviewed the current architectures for building a
Web based application and decided to follow a three-tier approach
utilizing ASP pages, VBScript, JavaScript in the client tier, COM+
Components in the business tier and SQLServer 2000 in the data tier.
Crystal Reports 8.5 was chosen to be the reporting tool. Windows
2000 is selected as the production platform.
Implementation
Phase
Codeserv Staff divided the development phase of the whole system
into smaller subsystems and demonstrated their progress and new
functionality on a bi-weekly basis through presentations and demos.
It gave us a chance to do rapid implementation, and "fine tune"
our programs based on feedback we received from the users during
demo sessions.
We
started our implementation from the backend data tier, and moved
our way to front-end (i.e. client-tier). For backend, we implemented
SQL stored procedures (for adding, deleting, retrieving, updating,
business rules etc). Once the stored procedures were developed,
we implemented the middle tier components calling the SQL stored
procedures and finally the user interfaces and ASP pages calling
the middle tier components' methods were implemented. We used optimizations
techniques, such as object pooling and disconnected recordsets to
increase the performance of the application as part of our project
goals.
Timing
was right to update the "look and feel" of the Web application,
which would enhance the user experience. CodeServ creative graphics
designers started a sub-project to create the new User Interface.
We integrated the new User Interface and the code once both were
ready.
CodeServ
and Anritsu staff worked side by side to install the pilot platform,
which would later be used as a production platform. Pilot platform
was used for system and parallel testing for two weeks to uncover
any bugs, as well as implement any last minute changes. We developed
DTS packages in SQL Server to migrate the data from Microsoft Access
2.0 database to Microsoft SQL Server 2000.
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The
Outcome
CodeServ estimated the new system's development to be
completed in 18 weeks. Once again, CodeServ delivered the system
on-time and on-budget to customer's satisfaction.
Testimonial
from Customer
"Codeserv
has done an excellent job of responding quickly to our software
needs in a variety of areas. They were able to develop a web based
Special Response System (SRS), which allow us to more quickly respond
to our customer's needs and desires when ordering custom designed
products from Anritsu. Codeserv helped us clearly define our needs
for the system, and was successful in completing the project on
schedule with all requirements met. This new system also includes
additional reporting functions, which allow us to better manage
the data and enable the engineers to track their current customer
requests efficiently, as well as more easily find information on
past orders. This SRS software is very user friendly, and all areas
(order entry, sales, engineering) have quickly adapted to the new
system. Codeserv
has also been instrumental in helping us to change our test stations
from a MS Access based database system to MS SQL Server. They were
able to make these changes without requiring modification of our
front end software, and in a critical manufacturing area, we were
able to quickly switch over to the new database with no manufacturing
down time. This improvement has reduced our test time by approximately
10-15%, and given us a more maintainable, robust database system.
We have been very impressed with the high quality of the Codeserv
staff, and plan to continue to develop our relationship with Codeserv
in the future."
Dave Stenfort,
Test
& Industrial Engineering Manager
Anritsu
Co.
www.anritsu.com
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