IT infrastructure

Through the years, the provision of information has developed in a similar manner as the business processes. In an evolutionary sense, for neither of them are fixed architectural designs available. As regards the provision of information, however, a distinction can be made between – on the one hand – systems that facilitate the primary process and – on the other hand – systems that enable the management and supporting processes.

Applications

All management and supporting applications are integrated into a SAP-ERP system, with the exception of the Sales Management System (SMS) and the website, which is hosted by a service provider in Amsterdam. The back-ups made from all environments are placed on a Storage Area Network (SAN) with the same service provider in Amsterdam. SAP-ERP contains modules such as Planning & Control, Finance, HR etc. The SMS includes the products database and the client administration. This system therefore also has a Content Management Module (CMM).

Systems

Here a distinction can be made between on the one hand, the systems for steering and monitoring the primary process (the so-called Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition – SCADA) or Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and on the other hand, the standard Office Automisation (OA) systems.

SCADA-systems

Each of Bicsma’s production lines are facilitated with the aid of 12 Process Control Systems (PCSs).These are specific computer systems equipped to manage industrial processes. Each process is steered by one PCS. The name of the PCS indicates which process in which production line is controlled. For example, FVCS02 steers the Bottles Preparation process of production line 2.

All PCSs are connected with the Production Management System (PMS). The PMS controls the entire production environment. Via this system production jobs can be entered and the production progress monitored. The PMS is linked to both control and supporting systems.

Production employees have a remote access option (PAD = Production At a Distance) to monitor the production at a distance and intervene, if necessary. The production street cannot and is prohibited to be started up or stopped at a distance for reasons of security risk. All of the equipment can only be started and stopped via an operator console on the machine.

KA-systems

In addition, a standard Windows-based office computer environment has been installed, including the ‘regular’ ftp-server, the Windows update server, Mail exchange etc. These servers are all located at the Breukelen headquarters.

Networks

To facilitate the connections between Breukelen, Woerden 1 and Woerden 2, Breukelen has an Open VPN server while at both locations there are Open VPN clients.

For making back-ups and providing the connection between the SMS and the website, a leased line is used between Breukelen and Amsterdam.

Architecture

SMS has connections with the PMS, the SAP-ERP system and the website. Via the client portal orders can be made and followed (track & trace), and questions can be asked (customer service). In order to place and/or follow an order, it is necessary to make a MyBicsma account. This happens automatically when a customer makes a first order. MyBicsma can also be used to adjust personal data, retrieve information on the invoice, and pay the invoice.

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