Energizer Australia Chooses Datastream to Control Maintenance Operations

	Quick Facts Worldwide workforce of 17,400 Produces more than 6 billion battery cells per year Energizer Australia operation consists of 8 sites

Energizer Battery Company (EBC) is the world's largest manufacturer of dry-cell batteries and flashlights. Their Energizer and Eveready brands are recognized around the world and are marketed and sold in more than 160 countries. Energizer's worldwide work force of approximately 17,400 produces more than 6 billion battery cells annually. The company's Energizer Australia operation in Rosebery, New South Wales researches, develops, and manufactures the full-line of Energizer products.

The Challenges
The Energizer Australia operation needed a software package to better manage the resources of its maintenance department and to reduce inventory levels. They needed a better method to increase equipment efficiency to meet the facility's increasing production requirements.

"We wanted a user-friendly software system that was cost-effective and offered strong work order and inventory modules," states Dennis Rust, maintenance coordinator for Energizer Australia. "Our biggest operational challenges were inventory control and machine availability, and we needed a software system with proven solutions to these problems."

The facility wanted a software package that could easily adapt to its current procedures and practices. Energizer Australia looked for a company that offered superior implementation, efficient training, and continued, global support of the software system.

The Solution
Datastream's asset management solution was chosen for complete control of Energizer Australia's maintenance procedures. Datastream software provides the work order and inventory functionality that their facility desired. Using Datastream, the maintenance department could generate work orders for scheduled maintenance work or manually create work orders for emergency maintenance or repair. After completing the work, maintenance employees update parts and labor information, enter meter information, add comments, and then close the work order. Datastream software then transfers the information to work order history and updates all relevant equipment and task records.

Another benefit the Datastream solution offered Energizer Australia was ease-of-use. Datastream sets the industry standard for easy-to-use maintenance software designed specifically for multi-site, enterprise organizations. It is the only maintenance software package that offers Microsoft Office compatible, which means it already has a menu structure and button bar similar to the one used in Microsoft applications. The software also has a user-defined Quick Access Bar that puts maintenance employees one click away from the forms and reports used most often, and users may access wizards that guide them step-by-step through the process of performing common maintenance management tasks.

	"We want to get the most out of our asset management software, and Datastream offered us a good training program. In addition, the software was very adaptable to our operations." Dennis Rust Maintenance Coordinator Energizer Australia

The Results
Datastream's inventory module stores extensive, detailed information for each item or part used during the equipment maintenance. Energizer Australia enters basic information about its parts, such as item numbers, stock locations (sites), quantities on hand, and unit costs. The maintenance department then uses the information to accurately report the cost of parts associated with work orders and to project future demands for parts, which helps their maintenance department optimize inventory levels. With Datastream's inventory reordering system, Energizer Australia also reduces equipment downtime that previously resulted from emergency part ordering.

"In a typical day, we generate preventive maintenance work orders, close work orders, purchase parts, review inventory levels, schedule work orders, and follow-up on backlogged work orders. We want to get the most out of our asset management software, and Datastream offered us a good training program. In addition, the software was very adaptable to our operations," states Rust.

Energizer Australia continues to improve its maintenance operations with Datastream. The facility has reduced inventory levels and increased its equipment efficiency. With Datastream, Energizer Australia improves how they manage the resources of the maintenance department to fully support the operation's increasing production requirements.