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From World A7.3 to E1_9.1. Was it easy?

Session ID 100100Presented by: Arlynton Marcano – Point Lisas Nitrogen LimitedJorge Sanabria – Premier Group

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Introductions

• Arlynton Marcano, PLNL• Jorge Sanabria, Premier Group

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Agenda• About PLNL and Premier • Project antecedents • Current situation and justification to migrate • Migration decision, selection process • Project approval, expectations • Project organization • Project phases • Challenges on each phase • Tools for success • Lesson learned • Final conclusions

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Software Solutions• SmartCommerce Solutions• PayPal Payflow Pro Solutions Oracle JD Edwards

Software• Oracle Technology Software• Create!form Output Management

Premier Profile- Solutions and Services • Premier is an organization of over 60 professionals

• Certified in JD Edwards, Oracle, IBM and Microsoft Technology

• Business process expertise spanning various industry and core processes

• Network of offices in the Americas- U.S., Caribbean and Latin America• Regional Oracle Certified Advantage Partner-Applications and Technology• 20-year history of delivering consulting services and business solutions

for JD Edwards• Specialized in rapid deployment of JD Edwards and SmartCommerce

Services Offerings• Project Management• Software Training • Implementation Consulting• Software Development

• Microsoft.NET • JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Toolset

• Technical CNC Support/Upgrades (CNCplus)

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About PLNL

• Located in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

• Established in 1998• Single Train Ammonia Plant• Produces 2010 STPD• Utilizes Kellogg Advanced Ammonia

Process• Originally known as Farmland

Misschem Limited• Now owned by Koch Nitrogen and CF

Industries

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• Acquires World software under ‘Umbrella Licensee’ through Mississippi Chemical Corporation

• Started with JDE One World (Version A 7.3) and maintained till 2013• No upgrades done to core. Only minor fixes and service packs

applied.• System used for Work Orders, Inventory, Purchase Orders and

Financials• Many problems experienced with System – slow, not user-friendly,

no document attachments, lack of modern-day windows functionality (cut/paste, print screen), no reports, no work history, very complicated administrative procedures, no workflow processes and lack of comprehensive reporting tool

• Extreme need to upgrade to JD Edwards Enterprise 1 (Version 9.1)

JD Edwards History

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Reasons for not upgrading before:• Prohibitive cost in licensing, hardware and software• Uncertainty of product life cycle after acquisition by PeopleSoft

and then Oracle• Difficulty in locating a suitable vendor for upgrade

Reasons for upgrading now:• System inefficiencies resulted in time consuming activities

requiring at times the hiring of additional staff and developing and maintaining additional support systems

• Core in house talent needed to be upgraded• Identified a suitable vendor for upgrade

Deciding for the Upgrade…

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• Create Design Specifications• Obtain Quotations• Identify suitable Vendor (Premier Group)• Create Budget• Obtain Board Approvals• Create Justifications

Pre-Upgrade Process

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• Preliminary Meetings held to discuss specifications

• Kickoff Meetings held to assign key personnel to manage project and form teams to execute project

• Departmental Meetings held to discuss issues with old system and improvements required in new system

Pre-Upgrade Process

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• Migration of Data• Development Environment• Models development• Training of super users and end users• CRP Testing• Production Environment (Go Live)• Testing/Verification• Sign off

Upgrade Process

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• Formation of cross-skilled team from various Departments. Able to get a broader view of JDE requirements.

• Tracking of issues by Departments (Maintenance/Materials/Finance/MIS) and project stage (CRP/Go Live) with daily feedback on resolutions

• Onsite training with vendors• Vendors on site during CRP and Go Live to

immediately fix problems

Upgrade Tips

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• Long-distance troubleshooting was difficult• Out of Scopes cost time and money• MIS – More in-depth training required for

system administration• Still some outstanding issues being sorted out

by Oracle and Premier

Upgrade Issues

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• Functional JDE E1 System• Upgrade took 6 months to complete• Faster, user-friendly and more functionality• Administrative procedures are easier• Great appreciation of product by end-users

Final Result

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• Vendors needed on site to troubleshoot and solve problems immediately

• Create a full Design Specification before project is started to prevent OOS. Include all departments in this process to ensure what they want is being delivered.

• Conduct demos of product with key personnel to familiarize themselves with system, test limitations and start thinking about possible changes

Lessons Learned

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• TEST EVERYTHING!!! • Don’t assume something is going to work the

first time• AND KEEP TESTING!!!• Something that worked yesterday can stop

working today, especially if modifications are being done to the system

Lessons Learned

• Implementation of HR Module• Implementation of Payroll Module• Implementation of Preventive Maintenance

Module• Implementation of Mobile connectivity• Further training for super-users

Future Plans

This is essentially a 20 year old character based screen which does not have the functionality or flexibility of modern day data entry or reporting screens

This screen is built upon commonly used modern day technology and functionality such as point and click, tabbed screen, pop-up Window navigation, record filtering, document attachment facilities and robust reporting features

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Questions and Answers

Premier GroupJorge Sanabria, Client Services Manager

305-567-3188 x241Jorge_sanabria@premierway.com

Point Lisas Nitrogen LimitedArlynton Marcano, IT Superintendent

amarcano@pln.co.ttwww.premierway.com

Updated Copy of Presentation Available @

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April 7-11, 2014The Venetian and Sands Expo CenterLas Vegas, Nevada

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Attend COLLABORATE 14 to hear high-level, strategic education for the JD Edwards audience. Register through Quest to receive exclusive JD

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Registration OPEN! Early Bird rates end February 12, 2014.