Expanding Maximo development to run enterprise asset management on zLinux
from CCR2, Issue 08 - 2007
By Jack Young
Vice President, Asset Management Development
Tivoli Software
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When IBM acquired MRO Software in 2006, we stepped into an emerging new arena where companies manage IT and enterprise assets together under the banner of asset and service management.
It’s a great idea, and one that increasingly captures the imagination of our customers. Managing all company asset types – from production lines and software to vehicles and buildings – via a single software platform, can greatly streamline a company’s operations, while also reducing redundancy and related management costs. This is increasingly true, especially as more assets, such as drives and conveyors, take on the characteristics of IT assets with IP addresses and Ethernet ports.
But some have wondered: are we determined to advance all segments of the Maximo portfolio? This update on our efforts for this exciting product line – which blends the best of Maximo and Tivoli technology to drive more value for our customers – should answer that question.
Amplified commitment
If you attended the MaximoWorld event in July in Florida, you may already know the good news: In 2007, we boosted overall development investment in Maximo technology by more than 50 percent over comparable MRO spending in 2006.
In 2007, that commitment reveals itself in expanded product offerings and depth within Maximo Industry Solutions, a new release of Tivoli Asset Management for IT, and support for DB2. In 2008, we will ship new versions of Maximo Enterprise, Tivoli Service Request Manager and all Maximo Industry Solutions. Also in 2008, we plan support for new platforms, including Linux on the mainframe.
Here’s a more detailed look at what’s new and upcoming with initiatives targeting enterprise and IT asset management:
Support for zLinux
During the first half of 2008, we’ll release a version of Maximo Asset Management on zLinux for our mainframe community. The product delivers a comprehensive view of all asset types – production, facilities, transportation and IT – across your enterprise.
Improved industry and enterprise solutions
The focus by Maximo Industry Solutions on asset management for industries continues. This year, look for new versions of all existing industry solutions, including nuclear power, utilities, oil & gas, life sciences and transportation.
For example, IBM Maximo for Nuclear Power includes new capabilities and support for industry best practices and business processes, including the Standard Nuclear Performance Model (SNPM).
Another product, IBM Maximo for Utilities, offers significant enhancements, including integration with the ESRI Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS integration helps improve productivity for asset and service management users by enabling visualization and analysis capabilities in a geographic context.
In 2007, you’ll also see new industry products, such as IBM Maximo for Government, geared to federal, state and local agencies. Another new product, IBM Maximo for Service Providers, will allow outsourcers who manage assets for other companies to easily track multiple customers and segregate their assets and associated work. It can help service providers manage their contracts with customers and track service level agreements to ensure services meet agreed upon targets.
Add IBM know-how to MRO technology, mix well and serve
We’re also pouring development resources into other aspects of asset management, blending additional IBM expertise to existing MRO technology.
We’re especially pleased about the upcoming release of the Tivoli Service Request Manager (SRM) in early 2008. SRM combines service desk capabilities with a full-bodied set of applications that let you build and manage a catalog of IT and non-IT services. In addition to helping you manage traditional help desk “break-fix” events, such as downed PCs, SRM can help employees easily manage other IT service requests, when, for example, a department requires e-mail server or new employee accounts.
The SRM service catalog can also support non-IT services, such as requisitioning office furniture or requesting plumbing services. The SRM service catalog comes with a set of pre-configured service definitions and Tivoli will continually provide additional service definitions via its Open Process Automation Library (OPAL) Web site. The service desk and service catalog components of SRM are independent and available together or separately.
And the commitment won’t stop there. IBM acquired Maximo with growth in mind, and that usually means a win for customers. Look for us to continue to improve and expand within the enterprise and IT spaces to help you manage all your assets – operational and IT – more effectively than ever.
For more information
 IBM Maximo asset management
About the author
Jack Young, Vice President, Asset Management Development, Tivoli Software, joined MRO Software in 1985, and was heavily involved with product development, including technology research, product management, and product marketing. Currently, his organization's responsibilities include product management, research, engineering, quality assurance, documentation and localization. Mr. Young holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College and an MBA from Shippensburg University.
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