Riordan Business Systems Analysis

Riordan Business Systems Analysis

Riordan Manufacturing uses many different methods to accomplish its mission of providing service to its customers. However, to maintain its status within the corporate world, Riordan needs to make certain changes. By taking a look into the current business systems, from methods to technology, Riordan can ensure its processes function smoothly and it will be capable of being competitive down the line. To better understand the current and future configurations, analysts have compared current setups with future or recommended ones. By taking a look into standardizing all sites, improvements in information systems in the financing department, and how operations can function more smoothly, Riordan Manufacturing managers should be capable of making informed decisions on the future of their company.

Standardization of all Riordan Sites

In order for this project to be a success Riordan needs to start by upgrading all of its sites with new Windows Servers, user computers, printers, software, hubs, telephone systems, and internet connectivity to all of its sites in Pontiac, Michigan, Albany, Georgia, the China plant, and Headquarters. After doing an extensive inventory of each location the following equipment should be upgraded:

Current Configurations

Site Servers Workstations Network Printers Connection Telephone

Pontiac 2 x Pentium III Windows NT 256MB RAM 45 x Pentium I & II Windows 98 4 x Hubs 5 x Older Laserjets 1 x Fractional T1 Antiquated

Albany 2 x Pentium III Windows NT 512MB RAM 20 x Pentium I - III Windows 98 2 x Older Laserjets 1 x Fractional T1 Antiquated

China 1 x Hub 1 x Older Laserjet

HQ 1 x Hub

Future Outlook

Site Servers Workstations Network Printers Connection Telephone

All 1 x Backup & SQL Server Pentium IV Windows 2000 or Higher New Network/Duplex Laserjets Full T1 VoIP

By upgrading the Windows NT servers and adding the backup server and firewalls to the sites Riordan can secure its network from any and all hackers coming in from the internet to the site networks. After securing the network Riordan can then standardize its databases to SQL where information can readily be shared between sites. By using SQL data and customer information will be able to be more secure.

While completing the updates to the database software Riordan will need to upgrade its workstations at two of four sites. When Riordan upgrades the systems and standardizes to one Operating System and Office software it will be able to share documents between all sites. One concern is that current operating systems do not allow security on workstations. When Riordan does not have security on its workstations it is open to internal theft or misuse.

Analysts recommend the purchase of additional Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) to power servers in case of power outages at all sites. The last item recommended is to upgrade internet connections from fractional T-1 lines, especially at Albany and Pontiac sites, to full T-1s.

With all of these recommendations in place Riordan could implement a backup system which is lacking. Riordan will need to setup daily backups on each site as well as live updates between all sites so that there is security and ready access to current data for all sites in case of loss of communication between any sites. By backing up the data at each site first Riordan will be adding a second layer of security and each site will have faster response time when accessing the data instead of having to go over the Internet to the off-site data storage system. This will make it easier to secure the data and complete live backups over the Wide Area Network (WAN). By running live updates at all sites, up to the minute inventory and customer information is a real possibility.

It will be work intensive and costly to revamp the entire network at all locations, but security of customer's data must occur at all costs. Riordan Manufacturing cannot take data or network setup too lightly, because the cost for the loss of data is much more expensive than fixing the issues now. The recommendations made are to keep Riordan competitive and to keep the company safe and secure. Right now, if one system went down Riordan would lose a major part of its data. When one puts a dollar amount to the loss of data and time if these changes are not made, one can see it does not compare to the cost of the upgrades and additions that are required.

Finance and Accounting

Getting manufacturing on one system is going to require that parts of the hardware, including some workstations and servers, have new workstations and upgrades completed to existing systems to make sure there are no compatibility issues with current and future applications. Recommendations must be applied toward the existing networks to perform at the rate needed and address the concerns the company has along with goals and levels the company is required to be at to supply excellent performance without issues.

The problem with the finance and accounting department is that the four locations have different network setups. China and San Jose's corporation run the same configuration, with some additional equipment, and Pontiac and Albany do the same. The hardware make-up is illustrated in the following diagrams.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

The above network designs need to be changed to run the new software program that is going to be loaded on the network servers. The hard drives, Operating Systems, and Random Access Memory (RAM) on these individual workstations need to be upgraded before any software programs can be loaded or function without causing incompatibility with hardware and software. The servers have to be upgraded in the areas of hard drive space for any software housed; certain servers need upgrading and replacement due to the amount of the files to be stored, and the access control levels for personnel accessing the database that will be stored on the servers.

Recommendation for the hardware changes for San Jose is that the 15 Mac g5s need to be upgraded from the 1GB hard drives to 60 or 80GB hard