© 2005 esync - all rights reserved. esync project team strategy january 2005 esync project team...

© 2005 ESYNC - All rights reserved.

ESYNC

Project Team Strategy

January 2005

ESYNC

Project Team Strategy

January 2005

Management Steering CommitteePeter Rubacky, RedPrairie, John Sidell

Management Steering CommitteePeter Rubacky, RedPrairie, John Sidell

Peter RubackyAMS Strategic Project Manager

Peter RubackyAMS Strategic Project Manager

RedPrairieRedPrairieProject ManagerProject Manager

RedPrairieRedPrairieProject ManagerProject Manager

Anthony SuteraOperational Leader

Chris McCartneyOperational Leader

Mike LisanteTrainer / SOP’s / Process Flows / LM

Yvonne BertorelliTechnical / IT Leader

tbd (Minnesota)Sys. Admin, DBA, Network Admin

Jose AlmanzarInbound Team Leader (UAT1)

Al GaspariniOutbound Team Leader (UAT2)

Andy GuerreroInv. Control Team Leader (UAT3)

Technical Designer / Sr. Software Engineer (DLx®)

DLx® Application Specialist / Project Leader

DLx® System Administrator

Interface / Software Developer(s)

RF / Hardware Specialist(s)

DLx LENS Application Specialist

tbdDLx LENS & DLx LABOR

Frank CameanConsultant / Advisory Role- Implementation Specialist

DLx LABOR Application Specialist

Mike LisanteAMS Tactical Project Manager

Mike LisanteAMS Tactical Project Manager


Project Team AssumptionsProject Team Assumptions

AMS to determine if the RedPrairie Project Leader will be the same resource used to help design & configure DLx LABOR and DLx LENS.

Project management duties will be a joint effort shared between the AMS Strategic & Tactical Project Managers.

AMS Tactical Project Manager will handle the day-to-day activities of the project for AMS.

UAT (Team Leader) resources are to assist Training Coordinator in training of Warehouse Supervisors and End-Users.

SOP/Work Instructions resource is also responsible for producing Process Flows.

RedPrairie to procure, configure and install all RF Hardware. AMS to assist RedPrairie with the sizing requirements for all hardware. Slotting and process improvement tasks have not been planned for; they will

be pursued after startup. An AMS resource needs to be allocated to design, configure and test the DLx

LENS and DLx LABOR applications – not accounted for in project plan. AMS needs to allocate one or more IT resources from Minnesota to satisfy

the role of System Administrator, DBA, Security, Network Administration, and Code Management.

Project Duration: 7 MonthsProject Duration: 7 Months

Oct. Jan.Nov. Feb. Mar. Apr. May

2004

Dec.Sept.

Phase 1: Analyze 10/07/03

Phase 2: Define 10/24/03

Phase 3: Design 02/16/04

Phase 4: Develop 03/04/04

Phase 5: Test 03/30/04

Phase 6: Train 04/16/04

Phase 7: Deploy 04/19/04

Phase 8: Support

= GO-LIVE Date of April 19th, 2004

Holiday

Season


Preliminary Project SchedulePreliminary Project Schedule


Peter RubackyAMS, COO

TbdRedPrairie Project

Manager

Mike LisanteAMS Tactical Project

Manager

Yvonne BertorelliAMS Technical/IT Leader

John SidellESYNC Principal

TbdRedPrairie Executive

Steering Committee

Steering CommitteeSteering Committee

Will meet once a month in Midland Park, NJ to review project milestones, schedule, budget and progress with AMS. Held at appropriate intervals as to disseminate information but not disrupt progress.


Key Success FactorsKey Success Factors

Start working on the Process Flows immediately in preparation for the CRP.

Conduct general product training on the DigitaLogistix™ applications immediately following contract signing.

Get a TEST server immediately procured, installed and configured onto the AMS Network.

Request the CRP be conducted in NJ – allows you the flexibility to demonstrate the process out on the warehouse floor if needed.

Spend as much time necessary ironing out all the details during the CRP and GAP analysis Short-cutting this effort will impact the project down the road – from both a

scheduling and budgetary perspective Request frequent visits on-site to NJ from RedPrairie project team

resources Suggest they work directly with your project team on-site throughout the

project’s life cycle. Managing implementations remotely is difficult. Past implementation have proven having all resources working together on-site is more effective.

Create a work area for when RedPrairie resources arrive to work in NJ.


Key Success Factors (cont.)Key Success Factors (cont.)

Manage the implementation with the use of an integrated Microsoft project plan. Request RedPrairie commit to weekly project plan updates, outlining any potential

schedule delays. In addition to project plan updates, have them provide a weekly update report.

Maintain Project Control - Prioritize tasks, set completion dates, and assign responsible agents to all tasks. Implement consistent follow-up procedures.

Manage to the plan, don’t digress from it. Use a proven implementation methodology.

Coordinate a Steering Committee review at least once a month – be a strong advocate of executive involvement and its importance to the success of the project.

Allocate adequate time to testing and training: short-cutting this process can be detrimental to the project.

Deploy the use of test plans, specifically proven software development test plans. Build a training program – one that can be repeated as new employees get hired.

If possible, suggest partnering with a proven, well versed, experienced WMS Implementation

Professional They can either help manage the implementation or provide an advisory role to the

project evaluating the implementation throughout its life cycle.


Key Success Factors (cont.)Key Success Factors (cont.)

Control Scope Create strict approval process for scope change. Exhaust all

possible alternatives before adding new development Look for Short-Cuts

Constantly look for better, faster approaches. Re-schedule tasks that have become non-critical. Continue to Re-Prioritize at Each and Every Phase of the Project’s

Life Cycle Create Areas of Focus

Assign specific areas and tasks to specific resources while making deliverables very clear

Micro Manage High Risk Areas Identify and provide extra support for high-risk tasks. Increase monitoring

and conduct reviews for these tasks. Deploy the use of micro-plans.

Ensure correct skill set and appropriate number of resources committed 100% to the project Clearly define all roles & responsibilities for both organizations & all project

resources


Project Role DefinitionsProject Role Definitions

AMS Strategic Project Manager (Peter Rubacky) - provide overall leadership, coordination, and general management to the project; Set overall project schedule for all AMS Project related activities; Track project cost against overall project budget; Administer change control procedures; Coordinate individual activities of the project team to meet the overall project goals; Provide high-level direction for staffing and resources; Prioritize all detailed activities; Assess risk; Review the project progress against established work plans with project team members; Responsible for ensuring all AMS milestones and deliverables are on time; Coordinate schedule and availability of resources; Coordinate on-site support & travel plans; Coordinate Steering Committee monthly review sessions.

Required Skill-set: Experience managing mid to large-scale software implementations from an executive level; Prior Project Management experience; Proficient use of Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office Suite; Strong leadership abilities and effective communication skills; Experience in managing a group of Operational & Implementation resources; Understands the basic features & advantageous of deploying a WMS



AMS Tactical Project Manager (Mike Lisante) - provide day-to-day oversight for the project; Establish a working relationship with the RedPrairie project manager; Keep Steering Committee updated on progress and issues; Communicate key project information (data, decisions, dates, approvals, etc), to relevant stakeholders at AMS and RedPrairie; Track AMS project progress against overall project plan; Serve as single point of contact for all relevant Project Leaders; Serve as point of escalation for issue resolution; Responsible for approving functional designs & ensuring the WMS software will meet specifications; Ensure test scripts meet testing criteria; Assist in the development of a deployment strategy; Assist in the development of contingency plans & data conversion approach; Work with the Warehouse Managers, Team Leaders and AMS Management Personnel to ensure appropriate levels of support and agreement; Manage the execution of Dry-Run & GO-LIVE activities; Provide support and guidance during system implementation.

Required Skill-set: Experience managing mid to large-scale software implementations, specifically WMS implementations; Prior Project Management experience; Proficient use of Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office Suite; Strong leadership abilities and effective communication skills; Experience in managing a group of Operational & Implementation resources; Understands the basic features & advantageous of deploying a WMS; Experience with software development testing and functional spec writing is a plus; Responsible, reliable, and dependent; Proven track record.



AMS Operational Project Leaders (Anthony Sutera, Chris McCartney) -responsible for the design of functional solutions, procedures, and processes that support the business requirements of the project; Provide operational and business leadership to the project team; Identify associated gap items during the CRP process with RedPrairie; Develop test plans to thoroughly test the application logic, configuration, interfaces with AMS systems and supported business processes; Identify high risk areas and potential project delays; Responsible for the design and development of any custom labels and reports; Responsible for ensuring User Acceptance Testing; Configuration of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Responsible for becoming the Super-Users of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Pursue parcel carrier certifications with all carriers; Assist in the training of all end-users; Become an integral part of AMS’ internal support structure of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Instrumental to the success of the implementation; Provides production support after GO-LIVE.

Required Skill-set: Understands American Musical Supply Operations and WMS applications; Strong data analysis skills; Experience in data collection; Prior experience writing Test Scripts for Software Development projects; Prior experience performing Quality control tests for Warehouse Management Systems or similar applications is a plus; Proficient use of Microsoft Office; Strong writing and communication skills; Industrial Engineering experience is a plus; Experience writing functional specifications for warehouse operations; Extensive knowledge of AMS’s HOST Applications; Experience with Interface designs; Experience integrating WMS solutions in a new environment; Training experience is a plus; Experience in executing Slotting Analysis without the use of a slotting optimization tool is a plus.



AMS Technical / IT Project Leaders (Yvonne Bertorelli) - general knowledge of AMS Host systems (Ecometry) to design, develop, and implement all host and interface changes; Test any required host and interface development; Become an integral part of AMS’ internal support structure of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Instrumental to the success of the implementation; Provides production support after GO-LIVE.

Required Skill-set: Understands American Musical Supply’s technical environment and HOST applications; Extensive knowledge of Ecometry’s architecture and interface file definitions; Interface design and development experience is a plus; Prior experience writing Interface Specifications for Software Development projects; Strong data analysis skills; Technical writing and communication skills required; Experience integrating WMS solutions in a new environment.



AMS Training, SOPs, Process Flows, Labor Management (Mike Lisante) - plans and executes the various levels of training required for the success of the project; Acquires a deep understanding of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite, configuration and supported business processes; Ensures that all trainers are properly trained; Develops a thorough set of audience appropriate training materials and training plans for use in instructed training courses; Develops agenda and curriculum for each class and target audience, tailoring the content and delivery methods to the specific requirements of each group being trained; Conduct training classes for each identified group on appropriate topics; Develop certification processes to measure the level of trainee understanding and proficiency; Works in conjunction with specific Warehouse Leaders (i.e. Inventory Control Representative, Inbound Representative, Outbound Representative); Produces process flows for all AMS business processes in preparation for the CRP which also facilitates the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s); Responsible for the design, development and configuration of DLx Labor; Provides production support after GO-LIVE.

Required Skill-set: Prior experience as a training coordinator, preferably software application training; Experience in developing a training program from the ground floor and executing the program per design; General understanding of WMS applications and how they apply to day-to-day operations; Strong writing and communication skills; General understanding of AMS operation; Ability to configure DigitaLogistix™ applications to run AMS Operations; Proven experience comprehending operating procedures in their entirety and then documenting them as such; Prior experience as a documentation writer; General experience with Labor Standards is a plus; Industrial Engineering experience is a plus..


Project Role DefinitionProject Role Definition

AMS End User & UAT (Jose Almanzar, Al Gasparini, Andy Guerrero) -leverage their experience with and understanding of AMS Operations to assist in the design of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite to run Operations; Assist Training Coordinator in training of end users; Acquire a solid understanding of the DigitaLogistix™ product suite, its features, functions and configuration options to develop configuration and parameter settings; Responsible for the configuration of each of their respective focus areas; Assist in testing the application configuration; Responsible for the capture of essential data elements required to run operations; Provide support and guidance during system implementation; Ensure the quality of all data for a successful implementation; Ensure all systems are fully integrated and perform operationally as expected; Provides production support after GO-LIVE.

Required Skill-set: Extensive knowledge of American Musical Supply Operations, preferably as an end user of legacy applications; Ability to train warehouse personnel on the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Willingness and drive to become super-users of the application; Ability to translate operational requirements as they apply to the new WMS software application.


Project Role DefinitionProject Role Definition

AMS SysAdmin / DBA / Network Administrator (TBD) - Responsible for the deployment, ongoing operation and support of the RedPrairie DigitaLogistix™ applications & AMS network at the enterprise level; Responsible for the setup and configuration of all servers and required application environments (i.e. TEST, TRAINING, PRODUCTION, INTEGRATION, etc.); Connect all PCs, Report Printers, and Label Printers to the AMS network; Assist RedPrairie with the installation and configuration of RF network and connecting RF devices, including hand-held and truck-mounted terminals; Deploy the frame relay connection to the application servers residing at either IT headquarters, or Midland Park, NJ; Execute bandwidth and fail-over requirements for all servers; Assist in the sizing requirements for all hardware; Work with RedPrairie’s DBA and/or System Administrator and undergo DigitaLogistix™ System Administration Training in order to provide future support; Proactively monitor hardware, software and network resources to ensure high availability and throughput and complete performance tuning tasks as necessary; Develop and implement security, back-up, purging, and archiving plan(s); Perform backup tasks according to the established plan and restore activities as necessary; Design, manage and execute disaster recovery procedures; Manage system security solution(s) including user profiles, passwords, and other strategies/devices in accordance with the established plan; Responsible for managing and migrating DLx code releases across all available environments; Assist and manage data loading activities; Configure all messaging & alarming features within the DigitaLogistix™ product suite; Provide support to the entire project team throughout the project’s life cycle.

Required Skill-set: Prior experience as a DBA, System Administrator, and Network Administrator is required; Experience with PC support and maintenance; Experience in a Client/Server application environment; General knowledge of American Musical Supply Network, IT Infrastructure, and some familiarity with AMS Host Systems; General knowledge of SQL Server and Windows NT; Data Warehousing experience; Prior experience maintaining & supporting an IT infrastructure; Radio Frequence (RF) experience is a plus; Technical writing experience required.



RedPrairie Project Manager (TBD) - responsible for the day to day operations of the WMS implementation and single point-of-contact between RedPrairie and AMS; meet with the project sponsor(s) and interface with the AMS Project Manager as needed; resolve any RedPrairie issues; communicate key project information (data, decisions, dates, approvals, etc), to relevant stakeholders at RedPrairie; communicate on an as needed basis with the AMS Project Manager regarding issues, status, timeline, risks, etc.; assist in resolving project issues; escalate issues within the company as required; administer change control procedures with the assistance of Customer Software project management where applicable; Review the project progress against established work plans with project team members; follow up on approvals to ensure timely completion; Publishes weekly project status reports; manage RedPriarie resources and staffing in conjunction with Customer project management; provide the necessary RedPrairie resource staffing; responsible for ensuring all RedPrairie milestones and deliverables are on time.

Required Skill-set: Experience managing mid to large-scale software implementations of the DigitaLogistix application suite; Prior Project Management experience; Proficient use of Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office Suite; Strong leadership abilities and effective communication skills; Responsible, reliable, and dependent; Proven track record.



RedPrairie Technical Designer / Sr. Software Engineer (TBD) - team leader responsible for leading the design of technical solutions, procedures, and processes that support the AMS technical requirements of the project; Provides day-to-day leadership to the WMS project team as appropriate and necessary; Work closely with AMS Host System Specialists to produce interface design specifications; Assign and manage RedPrairie resources and assist in estimating project deliverables; Manages project team members to timelines set in Project Plan; Develop a cohesive and exhaustive testing strategy and testing plan for unit testing;

Required Skill-set: Extensive knowledge of DigitaLogistix product suite; General knowledge of interfacing applications; Proven experience as a Technical Team Leader and Technical Designer; Strong leadership abilities and effective communication skills; Previous experience with interface designs; Experience in managing Technical staff members; Prior programming experience is a plus; IT competent.



RedPrairie DLx® Application Specialist / Project Leader (TBD) - responsible for developing and executing appropriate tests prior to delivering code to AMS to ensure that the WMS application is bug-free and supports AMS’s business processes; Required to develop a deep understanding of the application functionality, configuration and interfaces; Develop a cohesive and exhaustive testing strategy and testing plan; Use developed test plans and configured test data sets to thoroughly test the application logic, configuration, interfaces with legacy systems and supported business processes; Execute or coordinate the execution of each test with appropriate data sets to validate the system; Resolve or coordinate resolution of issues, as needed; Retest the system as needed to ensure system integrity; Assist in the identification and design of any required application modifications.

Required Skill-set: General knowledge of Warehouse Operations and solid understanding of the DigitaLogistix product suite; Prior experience configuring a WMS, preferably DLx; Understands the importance of data setup for a fully functional system; Good analytical skills and detail oriented; Good communication and writing skills is essential; Experience writing functional specifications; Understand the impact each data element can have on operations; Good interfacing skills with the customer, project team and warehouse personnel.



DLx® Interface & Software Developer (TBD) - responsible for designing, developing, unit testing and implementing coded programs, application enhancements and interfaces on time and within schedule; Responsible for developing quality-grade software minimizing development re-work; Assists in the development of interface specifications and the design of all WMS uploads and downloads; Supports development, production, and integration environments; Resolves any technical issues required for GO-LIVE; Report issues and schedule delays to RedPrairie Project Manager; Identify design constraints; Interface with Application Specialists to ensure deliverables meet testing requirements; Responsible for verification of data integrity; Provides support to the entire project team throughout the project’s life cycle.

Required Skill-set: Knowledge of American Musical Supply Host Systems; Development experience on DigitaLogistix Platform and programming language; Interface development experience; Prior application integration experience; Conform to producing code according to quality standards; Extensive programming experience; Technical writing capabilities for interface and software design specifications.



DLx® System Administrator (TBD) - responsible for configuration of AMS’s Test server, DB server, Web server and Production server; assists in defining backup and recovery procedures; assists in defining disaster recovery plan and failover strategy; assists in loading customer data to help configure a working application; Assists connecting all PCs, Report Printers, and Label Printers to the customer’s network; Works with American Musical Supply’s DBA and/or System Administrator as needed.

Required Skill-set: Extensive knowledge of how to configure DigitaLogistix product suite; Prior experience as a DBA, System Administrator, and Network Administrator is required; General knowledge of SQL Server, Windows NT; IT competent; large install base experience with mid to large-scale customers.



DLx® RF / Hardware Specialist (TBD) - Installs the RF network needed to meet RF requirements; Orders all RF equipment for each warehouse; Executes RF coverage requirements for each warehouse; Installs and verifies new or additional hardware for each warehouse and for each server; Responsible for the deployment, ongoing operation and support of IT items (i.e. RF Network, RF Units, Scanners, RF Peripherals/Devices/Antennas, RF Charge Stations, etc); Assists in the Training Room Physical Setup; Finalize the selection of all hardware models and pricing; Provides support to the entire project team throughout the project’s life cycle. Configure all RF devices for production use.

Required Skill-set: Extensive knowledge of the hardware required to run the DigitaLogistix product suite. Experience with hardware sizing and procurement; Experience with technical equipment required to run Warehouse Operations; Prior experience installing and configuring RF network and RF devices; Experience with integrating an RF network across a single DB server and Application server residing in a remote location; Some knowledge of American Musical Supply Network; Network Administrator & System Administrator experience is a plus.



Consultant / Advisory Role (John Sidell and/or Frank Camean) -provides professional consulting expertise to ensure that the project’s goals and expectations are met; Works closely with the AMS and RedPrairie Project Managers and other Team Leaders and audits their performance; Reviews project plans to ensure that project milestones are met; Provides in-depth industry knowledge on how to manage WMS Implementation projects; Identifies high risk areas and how to mitigate that risk; Determines effectiveness of project direction and suggests appropriate action where needed; Evaluates the quality of all deliverables and provides input for improvement; Helps ensure a successful implementation; Help instill project management disciplines.

© 2005 esync - all rights reserved. esync project team strategy january 2005 esync project team...

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