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APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY Pioneering Spirit Drives New Efficiencies
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
ASU’s Physical Plant Department is responsible for creating and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sustainable and energy efficient environment for the campus community by maintaining campus buildings and grounds, providing auxiliary services and preserving the value of the university’s infrastructure. Prior to installing a Web-based Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS), ASU relied on a homegrown UNIX system that was originally developed in the 1980’s and ran on a legacy DEC server. Over the years, this system became increasingly difficult to maintain and update, because much of the information was deeply hard-coded into the software. Sharing information inter-departmentally was difficult and the existing library of reports was inadequate. ASU realized a modern maintenance management system was needed to keep pace with the demands of a growing university. The university initiated a search for a system that would enable them to effectively share data and quickly make informed business decisions given the daily operational demands facing the Physical Plant Department.
About The Customer
Appalachian State University (ASU) is a pioneering institution located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The university boasts a student population greater than that of the neighboring hamlet of Boone, a town named for legendary American revolutionary war veteran, pioneer, explorer and politician Daniel Boone. ASU is a pioneering institution that continues to explore new paths to success. This pioneering spirit carries over to how business is conducted at ASU, and although insightful business decision are often made behind the scenes, the success of ASU’s facilities management program merits a closer look. ASU’s Physical Plant Department is responsible for creating and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sustainable and energy efficient environment for the campus community by maintaining campus buildings and grounds, providing auxiliary services and preserving the value of the university’s infrastructure.
The Solution
ASU initiated a search for a system that would enable them to effectively share data and quickly make informed business decisions given the daily operational demands facing the Physical Plant Department. It needed to be a scalable system that could turn around over 12,000 maintenance service requests annually, readily interface with the university’s SCT/ Banner ERP, integrate with ASU’s fuel management system, continuously update preventive maintenance schedules for over 6,000 pieces of equipment and provide inventory control and billing for over 10,000 line items. After a competitive procurement process that included on-site demonstrations and a full analysis of the proposed systems, ASU selected AiM from AssetWorks. ASU went live with AiM in August of 2008. The system was initially deployed by the Physical Plant Department with an eye toward focusing on work management. Today, AiM is used by several university departments, including Housing, Campus Police, Emergency Management and the Central Warehouse.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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