Komatsu Shows Technological Leadership as First Manufacturer to Deploy Fullscope, Inc.'s Global Enterprise Platform
20 November 2000
Komatsu Shows Technological Leadership as First Manufacturer to Deploy Fullscope, Inc.'s Global Enterprise Platform
Fullscope helps Komatsu America deploy manufacturing applications over the web
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 20 Fullscope, Inc., The eSolution
Center, today announced the implementation of an XML-enterprise platform to
deploy applications and services, which delivers a collaborative and
communications global portal throughout Komatsu America Corp., an Illinois
based company that supervises Komatsu's operations in the Americas, including
manufacturing and distribution of construction and mining machinery,
electronic components, and industrial products and services. Fullscope's
collaborative and communications platform provides integrated access to
partner ASP applications, such as project management, via the web.
According to Rick Laub, Fullscope Sales Officer, the company is working
with the American subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, to deploy the
enterprise platform to Komatsu America's financial controllers, who represent
22 subsidiaries in nine countries across 13 time zones. "Komatsu America
required a best-of-class project management application for its financial
sectors," said Laub. "Fullscope integrated a project management application,
provided by onProject.com, to enable Komatsu America to centrally manage,
implement and view projects while sharing proprietary group ideas, issues and
associated files throughout all of its locations worldwide. Komatsu America
can now collaboratively manage financial information tasks and resources,
while also incorporating personalized project planning functions by
integrating Fullscope's suite of best-of-class application service providers
(ASPs)."
According to Verne Tuite, Komatsu America's Controller, the company was
seeking a method to enable its operations controllers to work together and
communicate more effectively within the U.S. subsidiary's markets, including
the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Poland, Norway, Canada, Australia, South
Africa and Japan.
"With this new platform, our controllers are able to share confidential
files, make announcements and communicate more efficiently," said Tuite.
"Before implementing the Fullscope platform, our controllers communicated the
traditional way -- through email, faxes and voice mail, which was difficult
due to the extreme time-zone differences."
Keith Sheldon, Komatsu Ltd. Global Financial Officer, added that "We are
now looking at opportunities to expand the application to our other
operations. Managers in Japan, Singapore, the U.S. and Belgium will use the
system to assist them in implementing a major globalization project."
Consistency was another challenge, according to Suzanne Chartol, Komatsu
America's Manager of Financial Planning. "With this Internet-based system,
our controllers are able to use one commonality in reporting and planning."
Chartol also explained that the integration of the new web-enabled
platform was virtually seamless and was up and running in a matter of days,
without affecting valuable operating time. "If we would have built this
system ourselves, it would have taken much longer and would have been cost
prohibitive. Fullscope's platform is a ready-made, pure site that was
painless to implement and very easy to utilize."
This integration of ASP applications is one of the first major technical
initiatives within the heavy equipment manufacturing industry.
About Komatsu, Ltd.
Komatsu, Ltd., established in 1921, is a diversified provider of
industrial products and services. While remaining an international leader in
the field of construction and mining equipment, the company continues to
expand its business in electronics, engineering and other solutions-based
operations. By upholding quality and reliability as the most important
elements in its drive to be a full-fledged global corporation, Komatsu is
committed to providing safe, innovative products and services that best meet
the needs and expectations of its customers around the world. Komatsu's
annual turnover in 2000 (ended
March 31, 2000) is $10,249 million, and the company is the world's second
largest manufacturer of earthmoving equipment.
About Fullscope, Inc.
Fullscope is defining the collaborative Applications Service Provider
(ASP) market. Fullscope was founded to provide customers with a single source
for integrated applications, content, and eCommerce services. The backbone of
Fullscope's offering is a unique Service Delivery Architecture (SDA) that
integrates diverse online services into a single interface. Fullscope was one
of the first selected to lead in Scient's Accelerator Partnership Programs.
Fullscope is a member of SyncML founded by Ericsson, IBM, Lotus, Motorola,
Nokia, Psion, Palm Inc., and Starfish Software (a wholly owned independent
subsidiary of Motorola). For more information, visit http://www.Fullscope.com .