Emco is one of Canada's leading makers and distributors of building products serving the residential, renovation, and new construction markets, as well as the commercial and industrial construction industries.  Emco specializes in plumbing and heating, waterworks, industrial, oilfield supply, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) products.

Emco Supply operates nearly 90 branches throughout Canada in plumbing, heating and waterworks wholesale distribution.  Emco decided to strategically expand its distribution division to take advantage of a fragmented market sector and gain growth for the corporation while the traditional business (plumbing manufacturing) was relatively stable.

Project Summary

Conducted a project review of an automation implementation project.  Identified key shortcomings and invalid assumptions.

Background

An automation plan had been underway for over a year and was stalled – the pilot branch had stopped and there was solution to progress. 

Requirement

The new president brought in a consultant to determine what was holding up progress and what had to be done to get the plan moving again.

Project After Discovery

The project was implementing an internally developed order entry system into the branches.  There were no standard parts, so descriptions were text and pricing was ad hoc.  The work to operate the system was all new to the branches (extra effort) and there was no benefit to the barch although it was expected they would reduce staff.

There was resistance from operational management to the additional effort and expectation to reduce staff.

Approach

• Reviewed system description and demonstration.  Interviewed IT staff and management. Interviewed branch management and staff. Researched packaged software solutions.
• Prepared a presentation of Observations, Conclusions and Recommendations. Presented to both president and CEO. Recommended against implementation but select package and implement.
• Asked for recommendations how to conduct selection and implementation.
• Asked to oversee selection and implementation.