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In the Spotlight |
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Experience in Shipping Transportation |
Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a Leading Container Line company doing business across Atlantic, converting their existing client server application developed in Power Builder ...... |
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Experience in Port Management |
Mauritius Port Authority (MPA), a strategically located Port in the Indian Ocean has identified Thinksol to fulfill its need to automate...... |
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| Thinksol on The Move |
| A brief on Our expertise in Ports |
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Experience in Port Management
Mauritius Port Authority (MPA), a strategically located Port in the Indian Ocean has identified Thinksol to fulfill its need to automate as critical component to growth and efficiency. This automation project will transform the way the authority interacts with its customers, shipping lines, shippers and local providers. The MPA Automation System (MPAAS) is responsible for performance targets, operation and maintenance of port equipment, security and safety. This will culminate in to a computer based fully functional system, which will suffice to the needs of all existing processes of Mauritius Ports Authority keeping the mission, vision and objectives of the authority in mind.
MPAAS is based on both traditional client server as well as Thinksol's n-tier architecture (i-port) having the following features:
Secured
Portable
Easy maintenance/Manageability
Better Scalability and performance
Availability
Platform Independent
Basic features of the MPAAS are as follows:
" Single Integrated Application
" Global Repository of data
" Proper Referential Integrity within the Application (No data duplication)
" Proper Data & Business Security Measures
" Flexible Querying & Reporting Facilities
" Dynamic & Flexible Technology Infrastructure
" Process Re-engineering Capabilities
" Future Enhancement Capabilities
Financial Management System
Our state-of-the-art Financial Management System application will meet the overall objectives of MPA's financial management framework and include the ability to:
" Collect accurate, complete, reliable and consistent information
" Provide for adequate management reporting
" Support the preparation of budgets
" Facilitate the preparation of financial statements, and other financial reports in accordance with accounting and reporting standards;
" Provide information for budgeting and analysis, projections and forecasts
" Provide a complete audit trail to facilitate audits.
Integrated Financial System
The new system will create a repository of financial information that will be fed by business processes within the various departments of MPA. The modules envisaged within the financial package are:
" Accounts Receivable
" Accounts Payable
" Cash Management
" Procurement
" Inventory
" Fixed Assets Register, and
" General Ledger
Vessel Services Management System
The Vessel Services Management system will cater for information relating to the services provided to vessels in the harbour. All craft movements within the harbour (Pilot Launch / Mooring Launch / Tugs, etc.) and manpower & maintenance requirements will be managed through this system. It will also allow for efficient planning and scheduling of resources to service vessels prior to their berthing.
The system will cater for the following features:
a. Set up a database of all vessels calling at Port Louis harbour
b. Record each vessel arrival and departure
c. Record all vessel movements in port
d. Record all services provided and equipment used in connection with movements of vessels and other services
e. Automatic calculation of vessel dues payable and transfer to Financial system for invoicing purposes
f. Graphical display of vessels in port
Reports must be available to provide management information on the above and will include:
a. List of arrivals
b. List of departures
c. Analysis of vessels by type and by purpose of call
d. Graded Tonnage report according to scale
e. List of movements per pilot
f. Berth report - vessels calling at a particular berth
Operations and Commercial Management Tools
In the operations and commercial section, software to facilitate customer relations will be provided. The Operations and Commercial Department wants to formalize the sales and marketing program.
In keeping with the enhancement of sales and marketing, the creation of a customer service department will handle the following kinds of data collection and dissemination:
" Statistics
" Customer Service
This department has several key objectives that will be handled by the applications:
" Manage Berthing Facilities
" Monitor Terminal Activities
" Manage Empty Container Depot
" Issue Access Passes & Port Licenses
" Manage Transport Arrangements (Drivers)
" Assist in Land Allocation Process
" Provide Support on Report Performance/Legal/ and Administrative Matters
" Conduct a broader marketing activity
Of the above primary functions, two additional functional systems will be provided:
" Scheduling/dispatch for personnel & assets
" Contact management
Contact management system will be required for management, supervisors, marketing, and sales personnel.
Safety Management System
The software will be able to accommodate:
" An unlimited number of owners, properties, and systems can be entered.
" Incident reporting
" The organizations or personnel responsible for completing procedures are entered as Responsible Parties.
" Territories allow for segmentation of properties for ease of forms generation.
" An annual schedule of procedures is generated for all properties.
" Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and repeating annual forms can be generated.
" All inspections can be easily scheduled with tenants or departments from the scheduling screen.
" Completed procedures can be stored indefinitely within the program.
" A Discrepancy List can be generated for each completed procedure.
" Discrepancies include references to the NFPA code, section, and paragraph numbers.
" Forms can be completed on paper or a handheld computer.
" Where appropriate previous answers will be displayed on all forms.
" A set of standard answers can be used for answering form questions.
Maintenance & Repair
The MPA expects the new Maintenance & Repair system to include the following:
" Planned Maintenance (PM)
" Corrective Maintenance
" Improvement Maintenance
" Scheduling module
" Billing
" Job cost accounting (JCA)
" Tools Store
" Equipment Register
" Performance Reporting
" Standard costing
" Shift turnover
Audit Automation tool
The audit tool will be able to perform complex analyses of data, extractions of unusual items, audit samples, and assist in fraud detection. It should include:
" Extraction, analysis and statistical sampling
" Identification of unusual transactions
" Stratification possibilities for analysis of large sets of data to provide a summary view of e.g. accounts payable, accounts receivable and fixed assets
" Detailed audit logs for use as work paper documentation
" Lend itself to conducting 100% testing:
" Facilitate detection of data entry errors
" Field Statistics
" Random Record Sampling for test purposes
" Record Extraction to focus on exceptions
" Import Transactions Database with capability for field selection, records definition, saving of definitions for subsequent reuse.
" Field Summarization to allow for audit tests on specific criteria for transactions within database
" Chart Data for inclusion in management reports
" Review History Log of all actions carried out on a database
" Identify Duplicate Invoices
Website and Intranet
The MPA web site needs to be replaced in order to allow the general public and stakeholders of the MPA (shippers, carriers, etc.) easy access to information about the MPA and associated activities. This website will eventually evolve into a portal that provides a new, centralized, online application that will consolidate the various existing sources of cargo, vessel, carrier and service information.
The web site will integrate information from MPA, CHCL, and MFA. Up to date information on the port activities will be readily available (example vessel arrival and vessel departure, infrastructure set-up and facilities, cargo handling capacities and other support facilities at the port).
The web site will provide the following content and information:
" General information on Mauritius and Port strategy
" Overview of MPA, Ports Act, …
" Port Facilities and tariffs
" Statistics on port operations:
" Vessel traffic
" Import / export container
" Cargo tonnage
" Linkages to other stakeholders - CHCL, Customs & Excise, Mauritius Freeport Authority, Mauritius Shipping Co. Ltd. etc.
" Mail services and forum discussions
" Status of port activities
" Berth occupancy position
An Intranet will also have to be set up for internal use by MPA employees. The MPA intranet site will contain internal information about the company and its employees, including but not limited to, the below items:
" Company Overview - Mission statement, etc.
" Company Policies and Procedures
" Office Directory
" Human Resource Forms - Expense Forms, Vacation Requests, etc.
" Employee Benefits
" Holiday Calendar
" Status Meetings
" News and upcoming events
" Roles and Responsibilities
" Tutorials and Training guides
" Links to other resources like:
" Company affiliates
" Reference Info
" Employee Achievements
" Employee Schedules
It will have the capability to enhance into a portal having a single point entry and exit.
Web Portal
In the next phase of the project, The MPAAS website will eventually evolve into a portal that provides a new, centralized, online application that will consolidate the various existing sources of cargo, vessel, carrier and service information. It will allow the general public, customers of the MPA (shippers, carriers, etc.) and employee's access to information about the MPA. Thus, MPA portal will be a web-based application integrating all available information captured today and in the future at the MPA and related entities.
MIS/EIS
MPAAS will provide for timely and useable information available to Port Management at the Management level and the Department Head level at a minimum. Common, accurate reporting facilitates good communication and management practice in any enterprise.
The key elements of the EIS will be as follows:
" Production
" Resources
o Physical
o Financial
o Human Resources
o Performance Measures
" Key Performance Indicators
o Operations
o Cargo statistics
o Productivity
o Malfunctions
o Major Maintenance
o Personnel
o Harbor Radio
o Workshop
o Stores
o Vessels
o Finance
o Project Management
o Free trade zone activities
o Information Systems
o Information Systems
Backup Tool
The solution will include tools for fully automated backup solution with one LTO drive and appropriate backup/restore software.
The tool will provide the following features:
" Centralised administration via easy to use interface
" Automated and unattended backup scheduling and definition of undesirable time periods for backup
" Automated media tacking and labelling and ability to specify retention periods
" Parallel backup and restore
" GNU-tar-compatible tape format such that standard utilities can be used
" Parameters to control network utilisation
" Ability to restore data to an alternate system
Data query and analytical tool
The solution will provide data query and analytical tools that allows creation of ad-hoc query and reports. Drill down facilities to detailed information should also be included. The reports should be accessible through the web through a standard browser.
Security and Access Control
The following requirements will be applicable for security across the applications supplied:
" The proposed application will be accessed via a single System log-on, which will be controlled by a password. Individual user access will be controlled by allocating access to each application module, function and sub-functions.
" The proposed System will allow different level of privileges to be assigned to users or user group/groups at different levels of responsibility.
" The menu facility in the proposed System showing the various functions must be customized to each user's security profile. Those options to which the users do no have access rights should not be displayed.
" The proposed System will require the minimum length of a password to be not less than eight (8) characters and the passwords are to be stored in encrypted form.
" The proposed System shall require users to change their passwords after a specified life span and will be able to allow the user to change his or her password before admitting the user further access to the System.
" The System will provide facilities for the System Administrator to specify the life span of passwords.
" It will be possible to log out users if they are idle for a fixed amount of time.
" Functionality to create, maintain and revoke passwords will be a part of the System.
" A server managed anti-virus solution will also be provided.
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