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Brownes simplifies operations and gains productivity
VCE converged infrastructure and EMC storage enable Brownes to integrate new businesses and meet complex workflows for improved productivity and efficiency
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Customer
Brownes
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Industry
Agriculture
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Offerings
VCE Vblock Systems 300 with an EMC VNX converged infrastructure solution
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Key Challenges
Consolidate and scale infrastructure for new business acquisitions, reduce operating costs, support critical end-to-end business functions
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Outcomes
Supports long-term growth, simplifies environment, delivers cost-efficiencies and improved productivity
Challenges
Established in 1886, Brownes is Western Australia’s oldest and largest dairy processor with 146 million liters of milk being collected each year, representing approximately 40 percent of the state’s milk production. Brownes is an iconic brand, processing 400,000 liters of milk per day, 365 days a year, to deliver a range of milk, yoghurt, cheese, and cream products.
The business operates two manufacturing plants in Balcatta (Perth) and Brunswick. Brownes also has the most extensive chilled distribution network in Western Australia servicing customers in the Perth metropolitan area, and regional Western Australia in the grocery and route channels. After a period of foreign ownership, an Australian based private equity firm purchased Brownes in 2010. The new ownership had also acquired award-winning West N Fresh Gourmet Yoghurt and Casa Dairy, and was beginning to merge these brands with Brownes.
The company’s needs were two fold: deliver an agile infrastructure that could be scaled across multiple business units, and support the end-to-end functions of the business. These demanding workflows included fulfilling and delivering orders, running the factory supervisory control and data automation (SCADA) systems, moving the milk off the tankers, putting it through the factories, and facilitating pasteurization—as well as packing and automated warehousing.
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Our Approach
Converged infrastructure meets diverse demands
Brownes partnered with VCE and its integration partner Vocus Communications. Vocus’ existing relationship with VCE - EMC’s Converged Platforms Division - and its use of Vblock® Systems offered the additional support and integration Brownes needed throughout the migration process.
The solution consists of VCE Vblock System 300 with EMC converged infrastructure and Cisco thin clients. It supports integrated SCADA, factory automation, ERP, office and production systems as well as end-to-end electronic receivables, scheduling, production, and dispatch. Partnering with Vocus and VCE meant the entire environment was up and running in six months, enabling Brownes to implement its new business processes.
Brownes’ entire IT infrastructure is located at Vocus data centers, with diverse fibre linking back to the Brownes sites for reliability. With the relocation to a Vocus data center, Brownes replaced their Alcatel on-premises PBX system with a hosted and managed service provided by Vocus, further improving efficiency.
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“The capabilities and reliability of the new system has freed up some of my time, meaning I can focus on the things that really matter, like managing my teams and delivering the best outcome for our internal customers.”
Brad Flintoff, IT Manager, Brownes
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Outcomes
Supporting long-term growth
Vblock converged infrastructure with EMC storage provides Brownes with high availability and seamless integration for the applications and systems acquired through the business acquisitions of Western Fresh and Casa Dairy. New business processes meet the challenging demands of its complex workflows.
Delivering cost-efficiencies and a clearer focus
The Vblock converged infrastructure with EMC storage has resulted in a significant reduction in operating costs. With the infrastructure able to scale to meet all production demands, Brownes has no unplanned capital outlay for physical infrastructure. Being able to keep its headcount low has delivered further efficiencies for Brownes. Even though IT is essential to 100 percent of the business, an IT team of four can support a staff of 400. IT staff now spend more time adding value to the business.
Improving productivity across the company
Deploying Vblock Systems and EMC storage has been popular with staff by enabling remote access from anywhere in the world to improve their flexibility and productivity. As a result, there was a massive uptake of the new systems across the company and its new businesses.
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