Multi-Utility ActewAGL Leverages Oniqua Enterprise Analytics to Optimize MRO Activities and Supplier Performance

    TAMPA, FL, March 22, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Oniqua Enterprise Analytics (www.oniqua.com), the leading provider of MRO analytics solutions for asset-intensive organizations, today announced that ActewAGL - Australia's first multi-utility to offer electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications and Internet services under one roof - successfully implemented Oniqua Analytic Suite (OAS) to improve MRO inventory and procurement activities as well as supplier performance.

"There were many reasons for choosing Oniqua," stated ActewAGL Supply Chain Improvement Manager Murray Elton, "but there was one overarching factor. OAS transfers data into useful information, enabling users to gain knowledge and utilize that knowledge to achieve business goals."

Using Oniqua's OAS, ActewAGL:

- Cut its inventory value in half, freeing up millions of dollars for other uses while maintaining high levels of power system reliability;
- Achieved and exceeded goal of purchasing 80 percent of goods and services through its purchasing system;
- Increased its DIFOT (delivery in-full on-time) by 25 percent in two years for its strategic inventory suppliers, with a 50 percent increase in receiving transactions;
- Decreased late deliveries by 23 percent for strategic inventory;
Improved its internal processes, providing a balanced, objective approach to supplier performance;
- Enhanced its ability to measure and analyze supplier performance to reduce costs, mitigate risk and drive continuous improvements in value and operations.

"It's a very useful tool both for inventory and supply management," stated ActewAGL Supply Manager Rod Morrison. "You can swear by it."

Prior to using OAS, ActewAGL conducted a total review of its supply chain activities. The review revealed that only 36 percent of purchases for goods and services were conducted through its purchasing system; the balance was processed directly through the accounts payable system, underpinned by no formal arrangement.

As a result, suppliers were not being challenged on performance because the utility was not gathering data to evaluate this performance. To improve supplier relationships, the utility needed to gather, track and act upon useful data, and therefore set a target of purchasing 80 percent of goods and services through its purchasing system. In addition, ActewAGL realized its supply chain performance correlated to inventory, which had grown by more than 50 percent in only a few years.

"We perceived that inventory was too high, but had no system in place to optimize it, no review process for slow moving or dead stock, and little useful relevant information in our ERP system," stated Elton. "Our corporate culture was to keep more rather than less stock, to ensure that stock on hand could maintain high levels of reliability. Now, using OAS, everyone wins. We optimize our inventory levels. Suppliers gain a better understanding of ActewAGL's business and how their performance affects our customers, and ActewAGL contract administrators gain a better understanding of the suppliers' business and how the utility's performance affects them."

About Oniqua
Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, and with offices in North America, Africa and Asia, Oniqua (www.oniqua.com) provides best-in-class Asset Performance Management (APM) solutions that improve the operational efficiencies and business performance of asset-intensive organizations. With advanced analytics capabilities, cross-functional integration, data cleansing services and seasoned industry expertise, Oniqua helps customers realize tangible benefits faster than any other APM provider. Oniqua is proud to serve the world's leading companies in the oil and gas, mining, utilities and transportation industries, including ConocoPhillips, BP, Hawaiian Electric, ActewAGL, Orange County Transportation Authority, Vale, Rio Tinto, Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton, Newmont Mining, Alcoa, Xstrata and Freeport McMoRan.

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