CASE STUDY

Industry Sector - Manufacturing

Windows Migration Project for Global Forest Products Company UPM-Kymmene

Scenario:

UPM-Kymmene wished to migrate from Novell Netware to Windows 2000 Server and Active Directory (with Windows XP clients) and enjoy the benefits of a more stable, easy-to-use platform. The new environment was planned for roll out across 120 business sites around the world. Infographics was tasked with providing expert resource and consultancy to drive the UK migration project forward and ensure maximum value on investment.

A successful track record across similar implementations highlighted Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Infographics as the ideal company to undertake this challenging project.

Background:

UPM-Kymmene is one of the leading forest product organisations in the world. The company's businesses focus on printing papers, converting materials, and wood products. Production is managed from across 17 countries. There is also an extensive sales network comprising over 170 sales and distribution companies. UPM-Kymmene Group has shares quoted on the Helsinki and New York stock exchanges, and employs over 36,000 people.

Implementation:

The project was carried out over the course of four months to help deliver the benefits of the new operating platform to UPM-Kymmene’s UK user base within a structured programme of enhancements. A comprehensive review of the existing infrastructure was the start point. Scripts were written to extract user data from the existing Novell Directory Service and the data then passed to corporate workers who created new user accounts using the information extracted. The new Windows 2000 file server and Active Directory infrastructure was implemented and from there various scripts written to copy data to the file server and set and share file permissions. Gateway services for NetWare were commissioned to allow users to have access to data still residing on the NetWare Volumes. At the end of the roll out, departmental data was copied to the Windows servers and the Gateway decommissioned. The following technologies were used during the migration: Gateway Services for Netware, Distributed File System (DFS), VB Script, Group Policy and Robocopy.

Business Benefits:

The UK implementation is part of a larger project to deliver the benefits of Windows 2000 server technologies, Active Directory and Windows XP as part of a group-wide migration to a global user base in excess of 36,000. The overriding benefit will be improved services to these users. In addition, the implementation of a single user environment will reduce management costs and lead to more effective collaboration across departments and companies within the group. UPM-Kymmene had initially planned to roll out Windows 2000 to the desktop but decided to instead make the forward looking transition to Windows XP – taking advantage of additional XP functionality and avoiding a two-step migration programme.

Geoff Edge of UPM-Kymmene said: “The Windows 2000 Server infrastructure, combined with Group Policies, has enabled us to control the XP desktop environment, reducing the support overhead and increasing the reliability for end users. This will have significant benefits for us both in the immediate and long term future.”

Operational Requirements:

There were a number of operational requirements that UPM-Kymmene specified.

These were that the solution should:

  • Offer increased reliability
  • Provide a uniform operating environment that would allow users across the group to log on to the same desktop from disparate locations
  • Improve access to key data for timely decision-making across departments and divisions
  • Provide a standardised environment for support
  • Ensure easier management of systems
  • Support the 24x7 working environment of a global manufacturing organisation
  • Provide the facility to cache laptop drives away from the network

Summary:

By implementing Windows 2000 Server, Active Directory and Windows XP Desktop, UPM-Kymmene has made an intelligent investment in a single user environment that will significantly cut costs and increase efficiency and reliability over the longer term, whilst providing employees with short term gains in the form of additional tools to maximise their performance.