Automated Interfaces for Aramark Uniform Services’ Manufacturing Control System Tracks Product Lifecycle
Project at a Glance
RDA designed automated interfaces for Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel between their Manufacturing and Controls System (AMCS) and several legacy and external systems. Additionally, the RDA team stepped in to develop a portion of the AMCS to ensure on-time delivery. The new system delivers improved data quality, reduced IT reporting labor costs, and enables Aramark to add functionality as the company grows.
About Our Client
Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel (AUCA) is a division of Aramark Corporation, a diversified outsourcing company with over 240,000 employees worldwide.
AUCA is one of the largest uniform services companies in the United States and manufactures and distributes uniforms nationwide. They work with manufacturers across the U.S. and around the world to provide their customers with career apparel.
Background
Aramark initially engaged RDA to design automated interfaces between their new AUCA Manufacturing and Control System (AMCS) and several legacy and external systems. The AMCS system was being developed by an offshore firm to replace several other systems that maintain information on uniform orders as the orders proceed through the manufacturing process and are distributed to Aramark’s customers.
While the RDA team was completing the interface design, it became apparent to Aramark that the AMCS system was not going to be completed by the required deadline. In order to meet the deadline, Aramark asked RDA to also develop a portion of the AMCS system.
Solution Detail
A framework had been partially developed using the Oracle 9i database platform, Oracle 10g application server, and Oracle’s BC4J framework. RDA’s developers enhanced the framework and quickly developed the RDA portion of the system to help Aramark get the project back on track. Additionally, RDA helped with administering the Oracle database and getting establishing processes for documentation and source control so that all of the team members were able to work effectively.
Challenges
In order to succeed, RDA and Aramark needed to overcome the following challenges:
- An offshore firm had developed the initial framework and a separate functional area prior to RDA’s involvement. RDA’s portion of the code needed to be integrated with the builds from offshore, which many times were missing files and needed to be updated several times in order to function. We established a source control setup that enabled both parties to work independently and integrate when builds were stable, thus eliminating “waiting time.”
- The project had a fairly steep learning curve, with the RDA consultants having to come up to speed on an unfamiliar architecture framework in addition to learning the client’s business rules, while under deadline pressure from the start. The RDA team worked with Aramark’s management to establish up front what could be accomplished, and met the agreed expectations.
Benefits
Aramark has completed the initial phase of the AMCS system. This phase of the system delivers the following benefits:
- Improved data quality.
- Decreased programmer time/intervention required to produce reports.
- Decreased reliance on legacy systems.
Additional phases of the system are planned. It is anticipated that, during these phases, more functionality will be incorporated in the AMCS system, giving Aramark more flexibility to implement innovative supply chain strategies and increase responsiveness while reducing costs.
Technically Speaking
The system was implemented using the Oracle 9i database platform, Oracle 10g application server, and Oracle’s BC4J framework. The user interface was implemented using JSP/Struts. Business logic components maintained the application’s data using BC4J database entities/views. System-to-system interfaces were implemented using Microsoft’s SQL Server DTS. The diagram below provides a high-level view of the system’s structure.
