Webbing Industries Australia (WIA) is a manufacturer of industrial webbing products and elastic fabric for various applications. The company began operations in 1949, thus becoming the first factory to produce lace in Australia and today is an importer of raw materials that enables them to design and manufacturer of a wide range of products used in the marine, medical, transport and defence industries.

The plant has expanded across 3 sites in Victoria with its own dyeing and finishing plant, they can colour match, dye and finish elastic, webbing and industrial webbing to almost any customer requirement.

THE SITUATION

Over the past 3 years, WIA have been steadily upgrading their manufacturing plant, machinery and adding additional square metres of floor space.

This expansion also necessitated an upgrade of their communications infrastructure. Auswide Communications were asked to advise upon what customers are looking for today and to provide a customised communications solution based upon current requirements whilst allowing for future growth in personnel and software development.

Some key areas of concern for management were

1. To provide the ability to communicate more effectively with key roles on the manufacturing floor
2. To reduce call backs to key customers and provide immediate advice of their products and services quickly by having access to key staff
3. To provide the ability to enhance access to internal management at a variety of hours of the day for staff and their families.
4. To reduce unnecessary communications costs with legacy technology
5. To reduce the impact and potential risk to general operations of legacy equipment failure

THE SOLUTION

A new IP Office telephone system with voice messaging and mobility features was the preferred options for WIA. Their telephone lines were upgraded from analogue to digital and a communications enclosure was installed to house the IP pbx, Public Address and other associated data equipment.

Digital lines enabled caller ID, which immediately improved their customer service so that they could separate customer and staff calls and appropriate the call flows to correct departments. Their new telephone system gave them the ability to transfer calls off site and twinning capability. Twinning permits similar functions to portable phones but at a fraction of the cost.

Remote Programming and diagnostic support capability will improve maintenance and fault resolution and could eliminate the need for onsite visits for most minor moves and changes.

THE BENEFITS

The Avaya IP Office telephone system has improved internal communications between head office, manufacturing plants and warehouse. Call queuing off their main number and voice mail have ensured that calls are never missed, even after hours as the time matrix for incoming calls has been customised to suit staff shift variations and customers in different time zones.

We would like to thank Auswide Communications for their consultative approach in delivering the desired outcomes necessary to meet our customer service objectives.

Throughout the process we were kept informed of our options and have deployed a system that enables us to enhance our communications between our customers and staff.

This has enabled our business to become increasingly flexible at our manufacturing plant in Melbourne whilst providing mobility for our staff to enhance customer service.

The IP PBX was delivered on time and on budget, the after sales support has also been excellent and beneficial to ongoing improvements.

The post WEBBING INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA IP PHONE UPGRADE appeared first on Auswide Communications.

United Filters is a supplier of automotive filters for heavy industries and petroleum products to local retail outlets such as motor mechanics and service workshops. They were recently bought over by Petrogas, a major distributor of bulk fuel and lubricants in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

THE SITUATION

Petrogas, a long standing customer of Auswide Communications called us in to assess the existing infrastructure and communications setup at Boronia. The cabling was found to be substandard and old. Cables were lying exposed and dangerously close to power and other hazardous services. There were also issues with telephone equipment being located in an inappropriate area for access.

The Telephone system was approximately 25 years old and its communication capability was severely limiting to the existing personnel.

THE SOLUTION

A new data and telephone structured cabling solution was required that was compliant with current building standards and ACMA regulations. The cabling was enclosed in a communications enclosure in a purpose allocated room, eliminating the dangers of exposed cables in an environment where there are petroleum products.

A IP PBX was installed with digital telephone lines because of the distance from exchange, which instantly improved their communications internally and externally. Old analogue lines were replaced with digital lines resulting in enhanced voice quality for customer sales inquiries and enabling call transfers between staff and other sites across the organisation.

It was also imperative to the manager Mark, to integrate a mobility solution for their warehouse which enabled connectivity between the fixed handsets and mobile handsets.

Integration with the wide area network was provided by Telstra 4G wireless terminals plus a fixed copper wire service to access the ERP system and CRM.

THE BENEFITS

A new data and telephone structured cabling solution was required that was compliant with current building standards and ACMA regulations. The cabling was enclosed in a communications enclosure in a purpose allocated room, eliminating the dangers of exposed cables in an environment where there are petroleum products.

A IP PBX was installed with digital telephone lines because of the distance from exchange, which instantly improved their communications internally and externally. Old analogue lines were replaced with digital lines resulting in enhanced voice quality for customer sales inquiries and enabling call transfers between staff and other sites across the organisation.

It was also imperative to the manager Mark, to integrate a mobility solution for their warehouse which enabled connectivity between the fixed handsets and mobile handsets.

Integration with the wide area network was provided by Telstra 4G wireless terminals plus a fixed copper wire service to access the ERP system and CRM.

We at United Filters are more than pleased to recommend Auswide Communications for their expertise in communications and in being able to devise a solution that actually works.

Business was good and we were getting by and never really paid much attention to the state of our wiring. If calls dropped out or the internet locked up, we just took that as part of the annoyances of technology today and got on with our job. We never even stopped to consider that business could be better and more efficient, until Auswide Communications were brought in and proposed their communications solution to meet our needs.

The change in our business has been remarkable. Auswide proposed a simple, cost effective solution for our challenging environment and took the time to listen to us and understand our business. It’s pleasing to adapt the modern technology to our advantage, making business easier and becoming more profitable.

The post UNITED FILTERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE appeared first on Auswide Communications.

Global Metals Pty Ltd and Selection Steel Trading Pty Ltd have been working with Auswide Communications for 5 years. We were initially contracted to service the computer cabling infrastructure at head office in Dandenong and Thornbury and have since implemented telephone and office cabling solutions nationally.

“As our branch network is dependant upon the uptime of HQ we were constantly suffering ‘dropouts’. IT Manager, Yvonne Edwards says” thus asking Andrew from Auswide for help.

THE SITUATION

The situation required a complete review of installation techniques and procedures due to the enormity of the issues which have been compounded with a merger which meant that additional IT infrastructure was required to be deployed in the main computer room at Dandenong.

Upon analysis carried out in consultation with Global Metals and Selection Steel representatives, the requirements for the immediate and foreseeable future, it was decided to clean up the existing birds nest and design a solution for the scale of business required including allowances for growth in the future.

Common problems with these sites:

1. lack of real estate space for equipment
2. appropriate identification and records
3. previous ad hoc approach to adding wiring
4. different termination standards within buildings

Yvonne demanded a solution that would enable her to implement other business segments to existing infrastructure with ease whilst mitigating risks associated with working on cabling and communications hardware.

THE SOLUTION

To meet the business objectives prior to the merger we had to upgrade the equipment enclosures at Dandenong, identify and re-label all copper and fibre cabling installed in the premises in order for our technicians to relocate the cables into the new enclosures as per approved design.

We then re terminated all the copper cabling onto new patch panels, labelled field outlets and the patch panels. All existing cat 5E and new cat 6 cables were tested for Class D & E performance characteristics. At the same time we took the opportunity to install a new tie-cable for the legacy PBX and distribute modems, faxes and other analogue devices via the patch panel for ease of relocation in the future.

Working in conjunction with Selections’ Server maintainer, we were also able to integrate the myriad of units into the new wiring loom for power and data.

Selection Steel also installed new uninterruptible power supplies and air conditioning for their new computer room layout.

THE BENEFITS

The clear benefits to Selection Steel and Global metals were

1. regaining space in the computer room
2. organised infrastructure design and layout
3. confidence in the labelling that the computer room and field outlets match, more importantly operate at intended levels!
4. promote cooler airflow in and around hardware
5. ability to grow internal infrastructure with confidence
6. minimised interruption and downtime to the business as Auswide Communications carried out majority of the works outside business hours.
7. Now the business rarely has a drop out caused by their foundation cabling.

The most pleasing aspect from our point of view is that we now have a more robust foundation to support our growing network.

Selection Steel Trading Pty Ltd and Global Metals Pty Ltd has been dealing with Auswide for 5 years.

We initiated business with them due to the computer /telephone communications services market inability 10 provide professional support.

Our company runs two national steel companies with sales distribution in every capital city around Australia so reliable efficient computer and telephone communications is vital to the success of our business.

Auswide certainly put that issue away with a complete rewire of our centralised “computer/telephone cabling birds nest” which has now been running fault less for nearly 5 years.

Auswide were initially contracted to service our computer cabling network and considering the wonderful robust job they did there we soon allocated our telephone support work to them. About a year ago they installed a new central telephone/PABX system for us at our Dandenong head office which again was done seamlessly and efficiently.

Auswide also have maintained our state branch communications around Australia. Over the past few years they have conducted a complete communications cabling audit followed by maintenance and replacement of substandard networks.

Not only are new systems installed effectively but their communications expertise allows for the latest technology recommendations to not only serve us immediately but to prepare for business growth over the following years.

Any downtime with our cabling network, as little as it is, is always fixed within a few hours due to the responsiveness and professional nature of Auswide.

We as a group are completely happy with the work of Auswide and have the utmost confidence in them to continue maintaining and enhancing our communications networks around Australia and are happy recommend them to any prospective client.

The post GLOBAL METALS AND SELECTION STEEL OFFICE CABLING SOLUTION appeared first on Auswide Communications.

The Australian Gas Association (AGA) is a long-standing and well-respected national product certification body servicing the gas, electrical and plumbing sectors.   Formed in 1962, from the merger of The Australian Gas Institute with The National Gas Association, AGA can trace its origins back to 1925.

AGA customers traditionally had manufacturing based within Australia (or at least a significant local presence); the vast majority now manufactures overseas and export into Australia, supported by an in-house warehousing operation or an independent distribution arrangement.

With a growing overseas customer base, and the associated challenges that brings, AGA recognised the importance of a modern integrated communication system to help drive its business into the future.

THE SITUATION

Threats to existing industry support infrastructure resulted in a decision by AGA to expand its services to include specialist laboratory testing, initially for gas equipment but more recently for white goods performance assessments.  AGA, having established its new gas testing facility in 2010, had an opportunity to relocate its Head Office staff and extend its accredited laboratory operations to the same site in 2012

This consolidation of AGA operations required a full customised fit out of the extended testing laboratory and associated general office accommodation.

The existing communications system was basic (approximately 12 years old) therefore limiting the business’s potential to connect all parts of the premises easily, as well as catering for the ever changing dynamics of their customer base, and more importantly the issue of mobility.  AGA weren’t able to take advantage of the advancements in technology upgrades that make it easier to communicate with their customers.

THE SOLUTION

AGA needed a quick turnaround (short term view) but had a long-term vision of what they required the business communications system to do. A total comprehensive communications solution was offered to AGA encompassing switchgear, UPS, telephone system and cabling.

AGA undertook comprehensive research of telephone systems on the market, along with speaking with other telecommunication providers.

“We selected Auswide Communications due to their advice, experience and detail provided during numerous discussions, which provided me with the confidence to deploy certification”.  We recognised the importance of a strong foundation with reliable cabling, hence why we chose ADC Krone Cat 6A”.

Additionally, AGA undertook significant research of the actual phone systems on the market identifying the key features they required were VOIP, mobility, Microsoft outlook integration and interstate based offices and staff.

“We selected our communications system baesd on its flexibility and the particular features we believed were better suited to the AGA business model for today and into the future”.

Technical specifications of solution

The AGA solution implemented involved a complex port from another carrier to Telstra accompanied by a unified communications platform

That enabled the Microsoft outlook integration, and a web based portal for internal communication of staff presence and availability.

One of the objectives that AGA wanted to achieve was to have whole of business visibility of their staff as they work across two adjoining buildings in a unique environment where they can’t physically see all personnel.

They also received the ability to queue incoming calls so that the longest held call was answered first and have voice messaging for all users. Plus having the ability to use smart phones as extensions.

THE BENEFITS

AGA wanted to start from a clean slate and that was certainly achieved.

“The system is functioning perfectly and although the technology shift from our previous PBX was extensive, the implementation and ongoing support from Auswide Communications has been seamless and much appreciated”.

we would like to take this opportunity to thank your organisation for the design, consultation and presentation of a solution to meet our communication needs for today whilst considering our needs for the future.

The technical installation team were knowledgeable, meticulous and very respectful of our staff especially during the changeover of the phone system.

There are always teething problems with migrating to new technology and upon this occasion we are glad that the only issues we had were when to book the cutover, the short training sessions on how to use our intuitive IP telephone system were also informative.

The system is functioning perfectly and although the technology shift from our previous PBX was extensive, the implementation and ongoing support from Auswide Communications has been seamless and much appreciated.

If you could please pass on our appreciation to the team and feel free to refer our organisation in any of your presentations for future testimonials.

On time On Budget, with the least amount of hassle.

The post AGA UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTION appeared first on Auswide Communications.