NewPage — Maritimes, Nova Scotia

Background

NewPage Port Hawkesbury Limited (SEPH), the largest forest products company in Nova Scotia, produces newsprint and supercalendered papers for its customers throughout North America. The company employs more than 850 direct employees. Over 700 individuals and companies are involved in wood supply, woodlands contracting, and transportation.

Challenge

SEPH decided to replace its existing inflexible mainframe system, which relies on batch processing for reports, with a robust system that provides timely information. The importance of tight integration of suppliers and the need to share up-to-date delivery information with all stakeholders have created the need for SEPH to:

• Better track over 700,000 tonnes of pulp and saw logs annually, involving multiple vendors and multi-staged contracts.
• Have instant and direct access to and from multiple local and remote users.
• Integrate with ARCINFO GIS and GEAC accounting.

Solution

LIMS with SQL Server tracks all inventory and manages all business rules (e.g. contracts, bonus calculations, taxes, etc.). The table-based configuration in LIMS client-server system provides flexibility to adjust business rules, change weight to volume using conversion factors, update vendor information, add or edit lots and species. Cost, production, delivery and payment information is available to all users in real time.

47 regular users at multiple locations access the new system with the LIMS Windows Client. Additional users may be added as needed. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) enables connections to foresters' homes.

LIMS gains access to GIS system through Inform Forest Manager product. Connection to the GEAC accounting system adjusts necessary accounts, with holdbacks and other considerations tracked as needed. Direct payment to vendors is also available.

Project

Results

3LOG provides NewPage with an integrated inventory management system. LIMS is a suite of operational and financial applications, which can easily integrate with NewPage’s external systems such as its financial software and GIS. LIMS will provide NewPage with:

• Log Harvest Production Analysis
• Log Cost Analysis
• Contractor and Vendor Payments (including advance and reconciliation)
• Automated stumpage reporting and payment
• Log Inventory Control
• Log Sale and Transfer Management

Benefits

• Operation managers, foresters, marketers and accountants are able to run scenarios and create custom reports to analyze data and make informed decisions.
• Integration with MS Office applications is available for internal and external reports.
• Ongoing and one-time costs such as road construction are managed as needed.