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Customer Success Story: Advanced Oncotherapy
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Healthcare & Hospitals
- Life Sciences
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Quality Assurance
Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Although Advanced Oncotherapy is still manufacturing prototypes, the company recognized the importance of a fully-integrated business system to support its operations and meet the upcoming requirements of regulatory bodies. However, the company soon realized that its legacy PLM system would be an impediment in achieving a fully-integrated business system. Another consideration for Barker was cost. “We were developing many of our business processes from scratch. We wanted a platform that would enable us to control the business without mounds of paperwork. Our goal was to expand beyond the traditional PLM functionality of managing the product, and include other areas such as quality and non-conformity. Initially, we looked at expanding the use of our previous PLM system. Even though it contained some of the functionality we required, it came at an extra cost. The advantage with Fusion Lifecycle is that you get access to all its capabilities for a single license fee.”
About The Customer
Advanced Oncotherapy is headquartered in London, UK, with a research and development facility located on the campus of CERN (the European Centre for Nuclear Research), Geneva, Switzerland, and a manufacturing plant, clinical research, and clinician training facility in Syracuse, USA. Advanced Oncotherapy’s focus is to develop technologies to maximize the destructive effect of radiation on tumors whilst minimizing damage to healthy tissues. The company’s goal is to help healthcare providers and hospitals expand their repertoire of treatments to ensure clinicians and patients have choices. Advanced Oncotherapy’s aim is to cost-effectively deliver the next generation of proton therapy which is clinically superior to the alternative radiation therapies currently available.
The Solution
Advanced Oncotherapy commenced their implementation in late Spring, with the assistance of D2M3, a consulting firm and Autodesk partner. “3 months later, we had transferred all of the data and went live with the basic components,” said Barker. “D2M3 provided the training and support as well as helped us to improve our understanding of Fusion Lifecycle and ultimately refine our processes. D2M3’s commitment to the project was excellent.” Previously, Advanced Oncotherapy only had six users on its legacy PLM system. By taking advantage of the additional capabilities available in Fusion Lifecycle, the company expects that everyone in the organization will eventually have access to the system. Whereas most companies that implement PLM software look to control product data, Advanced Oncotherapy is looking far beyond the initial scope by using Fusion Lifecycle to manage all of their business processes. In addition to Fusion Lifecycle, Advanced Oncotherapy is implementing Epicor® ERP. “This is another area where we need to integrate both systems,” said Barker. “Early on we decided on a clear demarcation to avoid maintaining data in two separate systems. We decided that PLM will manage all of the master data, and ERP will manage all of the transactional data. We are planning to integrate Fusion Lifecycle with Epicor® ERP so that parts, bills of material, supplier records, and documentation will be passed from Fusion Lifecycle to Epicor.”
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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