Web Apps By Charles Brown

With the new AS400 system in place at each of the plants (1992), Division started a project to replace the Payroll Data Entry system used by each plant site to enter timesheets and receive back payroll reports and paychecks. This system utilized a direct connection to the mainframe in Columbus that was very old and antiquated and very prone to error. They had a consultant come in and evaluate the requirements and propose a solution. From his recommendation, they selected an off-the-shelf package provided by a third party that would again be hosted at Division. During the training and startup, the plant sites and Divisional Payroll personnel saw this new system as being worst than the old software in place and so it was never implemented. Division management was very upset that their idea wasn’t workable and their timetable for rollout wasn’t going to be met.

To provide a remedy, I stepped in and proposed that I write a new data entry system that would reside on each plant's AS400. Data entry would occur at the plant with weekly upload capability to the Division Payroll system. All reports and payroll checks would then be spooled back via the AS400 for printing. A detailed history file would also be created at the plant site for ad-hoc reporting. This solution was approved and implemented within 3 months and proved to be an excellent replacement for the old system.

Because of the timely fix, I received the "Presidents Award" by Division which also included a $1,000 bonus. Additionally, I received the "StarTech Award" from Division IT because I used a newly-proposed IT case tool to help develop the application. This tool was Synon2E.

The Johnson Corporation was named "Lilly Software Associates (now Infor) 2001 User of the Year Award" for their 4 month ERP Implementation and for also partnering with Lilly to make strategic changes to the software product.

"Lilly Software presents it "User of the Year Award"
to a company that demonstrates outstanding user performance and
superior implementation,and is instrumental to the continuous
improvement and development of the Visual Manufacturing suite
of supply chain products."

In addition to implementing VISUAL Manufacturing, Johnson also adopted Common Sense Throughput, a methodology from Lilly Software for improving communication and using information to create production schedules that aggressively increase a company's bottom line. The use of this strategy has enabled Johnson's Three Rivers operation to improve performance while reducing overtime requirements. The company has increased its on-time deliveries to an average of 98 percent and now ensures that its critical machine components are available to users when needed.

This same system is still in use today - 20 years later
I was the Project Leader for this ERP implementation