Published on 01-May-2008
Validated on 02 May 2011
"We needed assistance from somebody who had a lot of experience in RFID. We called on IBM, and it is from that beginning with IBM that we now have a state-of-the-art RFID system inside our new building." - Phil Williams, IT director, IM Group Ltd.
Customer:
IM Group Ltd.
Industry:
Automotive
Deployment country:
United Kingdom
IBM Business Partner:
Aeroscout, Cisco, QED Advanced Systems
Overview
International Motors launched operations in the 1970s when it bought the Jensen sports car company. Thirty years later, IM Group generates 450 million annually with sales of Subaru, Daihatsu and Isuzu automobiles.
Business need:
Having established the IM Group’s headquarters in West Bromwich for over 30 years, the company was eager to move to a more modern and cutting-edge facility. It had discovered a new location on the other side of its native city, and it was set on retaining its highly skilled workforce despite the extra 20-mile commute. The company sought not only to reward its workforce with more flexible and efficient working conditions, but also to increase security for premium vehicles in its inventory.
Solution:
IBM teamed with IBM Business Partners Cisco and AeroScout to implement an IBM Location Awareness and Safety (LAS) solution. The system is based on Cisco hardware and AeroScout hardware and software, underpinned with IBM WebSphere® and IBM System x™ platforms.
Benefits:
• Retained its highly trained staff
• Increased employee productivity with new scheduling systems
• Enhanced security for highly desirable automobiles
Case Study
Automobile importer IM Group provides its highly skilled staff with an ultramodern workspace featuring sensor and actuator technologies from IBM and IBM Business Partners Cisco and AeroScout.
Overview
IM Group Ltd.
Birmingham, United Kingdom
www.imgroup.co.uk
Industry
• Automotive
Employees
• 300
Products
• IBM Sensors & Actuators: RFID – Location Awareness and Safety (LAS)
• IBM System x
• Cisco Unified Wireless LAN and Cisco Wireless Location Appliances
• Cisco MDS Switches
• AeroScout WLAN RFID tags and exciters
IBM Business Partners
• Cisco
• AeroScout
• QED Advanced Systems
“We needed assistance from somebody who had a lot of experience in RFID. We called on IBM, and it is from that beginning with IBM that we now have a state-of-the-art RFID system inside our new building.” —Phil Williams, IT director, IM Group Ltd.
International Motors launched operations in the 1970s when it bought the Jensen sports car company. Thirty years later, IM Group generates 450 million annually with sales of Subaru, Daihatsu and Isuzu automobiles.
Challenge
Having established the IM Group’s headquarters in West Bromwich for over 30 years, the company was eager to move to a more modern and cutting-edge facility. It had discovered a new location on the other side of its native city, and it was set on retaining its highly skilled workforce despite the extra 20-mile commute. The company sought not only to reward its workforce with more flexible and efficient working conditions, but also to increase security for premium vehicles in its inventory.
Solution
IBM teamed with IBM Business Partners Cisco and AeroScout to implement an IBM Location Awareness and Safety (LAS) solution. The system is based on Cisco hardware and AeroScout hardware and software, underpinned with IBM WebSphere® and IBM System x™ platforms.
Helping transform employees’ workdays, the solution uses AeroScout’s radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to speed access to the parking lot, open and close doors automatically and automate time sheet entry. Digital monitors—installed by IBM Business Partner QED Advanced Systems—list important scheduling information outside meeting rooms.
The Wireless Control System (WCS), Wireless Location Appliance and switches from Cisco provide the infrastructure needed to deploy the solution and simplify the network administrator’s management of the wireless network. The client utilizes the IBM LAS environment to manage the security and tracking of high-value automobiles and other onsite assets, including IT equipment and sensitive company documents.
Benefits
• Retained its highly trained staff
• Increased employee productivity with new scheduling systems
• Enhanced security for highly desirable automobiles
For more information
Please contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner.
www.ibm.com/solution/rfid
Products and services used
IBM products and services that were used in this case study.
Hardware:
System x
Legal Information
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2008 IBM Corporation Software Group Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 U.S.A. Produced in the United States of America 04-08 All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, System x and WebSphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries or both. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. The information contained in this documentation is provided for informational purposes only. While efforts were made to verify the completeness and accuracy of the information contained in this documentation, it is provided “as is” without war ranty of any kind, express or implied. In addition, this information is based on IBM’s current product plans and strategy, which are subject to change by IBM without notice. IBM shall not be responsible for any damages arising out of the use of, or otherwise related to, this documentation or any other docu mentation. Nothing contained in this documentation is intended to, nor shall have the effect of, creating any warranties or representations from IBM (or its suppliers or licensors), or altering the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement governing the use of IBM software. SAC03004-USEN-00