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Autumn 1997
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Sheffield Insulation Group PLC needed a system that would keep pace with their rapidly expanding company. With over 700 concurrent, they looked for an open systems environment that provided optimum performance, flexibility, portability, ease of use and quick response times. The UniVision database management system provided the ideal solution.
Sheffield Insulation Group PLC (SIG) serves a wide range of Industries and markets as a special distributor and manufacturer with their primary focus on the energy conservation and fire protection markets. Founded over 100 years ago, SIG has grown into a diversified group of companies that comprise the largest independent provider of insulation and related products and materials in the United Kingdom. Operating from over 150 locations, SIG is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has annual sales exceeding $450 million (US).
The Search
At the heart of the group's operations is a sophisticated computer system running all of the groups' mission critical accounting, inventory, order processing and purchasing applications. The original software applications were running on a pair of Ultimate microcomputers installed in the mid-eighties. However, the cost of maintaining this system was quickly becoming prohibitive and performance was declining rapidly. SIG made the decision to replace the existing system and an exhaustive search began to find the right solution to handle the demands of their company.
"The right database for us had to include several critical factors. We wanted reliability, scalability, performance and ease of conversion," stated John Whaling, MIS Director at SIG. With over 700 concurrent users and SIG's entire operation depending on the computer system, they could not afford down-time. "Our challenge was to make this transition to a new technology as smooth as possible," continued Whaling.
Another critical factor was the reliability, size and strength of the vendor. The selected vendor had to have the resources necessary to handle an installation of this magnitude.
The Right Solution
SIG evaluated competitive database solutions from Vmark, UniData and Via Systems, the developer of the UniVision MultiValue database management system. UniVision was the clear winner. Stated Whaling, "UniVision offered the performance, scalability and ease of conversion that we are looking for. It is also the most cost effective solution - UniVision is priced at less than half of the competitive databases on the market."
With UniVision running on an NCR, Whalen has not been disappointed in the new system. The site has been running successfully for a few years now and is fully operational with over 700 ports connected to the host. The system is interconnected to an international network of terminals and workstations spread over 40 branches. The central communications hub, located in Sheffield, uses an ISDN Kilostream line connected through a complex network of bridges and routers.
Easy Conversion
"We are now operating at full steam with instantaneous response," continued Whaling. "The conversion process was remarkably simple and the users are happy because of the high level of compatibility with the Ultimate system. Virtually all of our existing operations from the spooler to tape run as they did in the past. Our learning curve was minimal which was a real bonus."
Looking Toward the Future
SIG plans to add more branches in the near future and expects UniVision to eventually support over 1,000 users. They recently installed a second NCR that will be used as an off-site hot standby unit to use in the event of a catastrophic loss of the main system.
"We are very proud of our installation at SIG," said Richard Jowitt, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at EDP. "In fact, the SIG UniVision is now installed at hundreds of sites around the world and the base is growing rapidly. We have earned our place among the leaders of this marketplace."
The UniVision Database management system is the first object-based database management system interoperable with applications developed using the MultiValue Data Model. UniVision's advanced feature set includes SQL and ODBC modules, as well as WinLink, the powerful middleware solution from Via Systems.
UniVision is available on a broad spectrum of hardware platforms ranging from a single processor PC to high-performance multi-processor engines serving hundreds of users.
UniVision delivers the power and tools you need to run your business...now and in the future.
Belinda Trevino
Via Systems Inc.
Last Updated: 28 July 1999