This global company has subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities in many Latin American countries. Information systems were different in each country, and none were Year 2000 compliant. The subsidiaries were operating very independently, but needed to start synchronizing the production planning and manufacturing functions among themselves and with the US. SAP R/3 had been proposed as a common system, but there was doubt that the different needs of all countries could be accommodated, and that the project could be done at a reasonable cost.

Our role was to establish the feasibility of a common system replacing all the old architectures and supporting the different local requirements; to gain acceptance from country management to standardize processes in critical areas and to execute a multi-national project. Mornington Consulting Partners had to determine the cost of the project and the hardware and support architecture for the sub-continent; and gain acceptance of the project from country management. The creation of a multi-national project team representing Argentina, Brazil and Mexico was needed. We also had to design a core configuration and implement SAP R/3 sequentially in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico for finance, sales / distribution, materials management and manufacturing; and prepare the ground for implementation in Chile, Venezuela, Colombia and other countries.

Mornington led the feasibility, costing, and justification and analysis phases of the project, including the review of benefits stemming from a cross-country IT solution. We developed the change management plan and convinced management in the various countries of the feasibility and benefits of an integrated Latin American system. We gained approval of the project. We helped structure the team and directed the Latin American project leader. We created the environment to process SAP from a single US based data center, running the Latin American business applications.

The company resolved its year 2000 problem. The business units are gaining benefits such as improved flexibility, better logistics, reduced working capital and operational costs. The overall cost of IT will be reduced. The ability of this manufacturer to operate globally is reinforced.