Exploring Blue Mountain RAM Integrations and Automation for Maximizing ROI

1. Exploring Blue Mountain RAM Integrations and Automation for Maximizing ROI Bill Lucas, IT Systems Architect / Sr. Software Engineer September 18, 2013

2. Integrations & Automation Best Practices Planning and preparation Maintenance and monitoring Deployment Measuring resulting ROI

3. Sample Demonstrations Active Directory integration for personnel record automation Using Excel to retrieve BMRAM data for analysis Using reporting services for multi-cycle planning Using web services for document management integration Processing time based notifications and escalations asynchronously

4. Active Directory Personnel Integration Leverages existing SQL Server technologies Integrates through a flexible view based mechanism Adds new users as soon as they are discovered by the integration Updates existing users after edit as soon as the integration detects them

5. Active Directory Personnel Benefits Eliminates the need for double data entry Active Directory can be validated as the master Identity Management System Automates the BMRAM personnel logon creation process Enhances compliance as ongoing changes are automatically synched to BMRAM.

6. Excel Integration With BMRAM Data Leverages familiar office tools most people are already comfortable with Integrates easily with database views for Rapid deployment Integrates easily with stored procedures to allow for preprocessing of data Can be used with Microsoft Query for ad hoc data discovery

7. Excel Integration Benefits Allows users to use tools with which they are already familiar Exposes BMRAM data to powerful BI tools within Excel like pivot tables, charts and slicers Spreadsheets can be saved for reuse and their data refreshed at the click of a button Once deployed the system can be extended without development resources SQL server security model provides a built in means of controlling access

8. Multi-cycle Scheduling Views Leverages existing application reporting services Leverages “baked in” application features in new and useful ways Can be exposed within the BMRAM interface using the existing reporting tools Can be developed to support query based reporting

9. Multi-cycle Scheduling Benefits Provides an intuitive calendar view for browsing projected scheduled activities Provides drill through capabilities to allow viewing activities from monthly to daily levels Provides advanced notice of potential resource bottle necks Can account for weekends and plant closures

10. Web Service Integration Most enterprise applications provide out of the box web services for use Leverages non compiled code to connect other enterprise systems with BMRAM Loosely coupled integration can be managed largely independent of both systems. Provides connectivity without the need to modify either BMRAMor the partner application

11. Web Service Integration Benefits Automates the synchronization of data between disparate enterprise system Eliminates the need for duplicate data entry Enhances compliance through a validated mechanism Up to date information is used consistently across applications

12. Asynchronous Processing Integration Simple to implement and integrate Leverages simple scheduling tools like Windows Scheduler or SQL Server jobs Can be configured to monitor queues or service broker objects Implemented through familiar TSQL objects Utilizes built in application processing functionality

13. Asynchronous Processing Benefits Eliminates the need for end users to monitor the system’s time based information for manual intervention Provides a solution for time based or “past due” problems Provides a means of escalating issues in a time sensitive manner Allows for automating batch processing similar to the batchwork engine

14. Group Discussion Questions / Comments