r e i n f o r c e r - asa rebar newsletter... · phone: 1.724.733.8700 fax: ... and mainframe...
TRANSCRIPT
aSa NewsFind out about upcoming events — see what’s new at aSa. >p. 3
Blueprint for SuccessaSa’s Implementation Blueprint provides service from pre-sale to post-implementation. >p. 9
| T h e C o m p l e t e R e b a r S o l u t i o n ®
R E I N F O R C E RW i n t e r 2 0 1 0
www.a s a r eb a r . c om
On the Horizon The release of aSa v7.2 is on the way. Find out what’s new and plan for your upgrade. >p. 4
Page 6
aSa Celebrates
40th Anniversary
Volume 17, Number 1
EDITORJerry Born
ASSOCIATE EDITORSJosé Amayo and Jason Butina
AUTHORSJosé Amayo, Jerry Born,
Jason Butina, and Scott Leib
LAYOUT & DESIGNJerry Born
2 R E I N F O R C E R WINTER 2010 MORE INFO ONLINE www.asarebar.com
Applied Systems Associates, Inc.5270 Logan Ferry RoadMurrysville, Pennsylvania 15668 Web: www.asarebar.com
Toll Free: 1.800.CALL.ASAPhone: 1.724.733.8700Fax: 1.724.325.5553 aSa Australia: +61.7.3018.7564 aSa Europe: +44.1443.231278 aSa Latin America: +1.787.533.8484 aSa Middle East: +971.4.3756980
Need Help?
Contact aSa
Whether you have a quick question or one that is more involved, our sales and consulting teams are ready to assist you and help answer your questions.
1.800.CALL.ASA
Customer [email protected]
Reinforcing Systems [email protected]
Rebar Financials [email protected]
To subscribe to the Reinforcer, visit www.asarebar.com
© Copyright 2010. The Reinforcer is published semi-annually by Applied Systems Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. aSa is a registered trademark and service mark of Applied Systems Associates, Inc. All other product and company names are the property and/or trademarks of their respective owners. Reproducing part or all of this publication for purposes other than personal or internal reference use without express written permission of aSa is prohibited.
From Keypunch to KeylessA look back and a look forward.
A s I look back over the past 40 years at aSa, it is interesting to compare the technologies that we utilized during each decade. As a kid, I remember coming with my Dad to the
aSa office – and being impressed with the array of high tech equipment. In 1969 and the early 1970s, keypunch cards, card readers, and mainframe computers were the high tech equipment that ran aSa rebar software applications. Of course, these “new” technologies are now antiques.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11 series mini-computers with dumb terminals were the platform of choice. In the late 1980s and 1990s, personal computers (PCs) and MS-DOS took center stage. And finally, in the late 1990s and 2000s, the Windows operating system became our standard.
In the early 1970s, who could have imagined that one day, PCs, barcode technology, mobile phones, video games, the Internet, and satellite navigation systems would become a part of our daily lives? These products have changed the way we interact with each other, and our expectations for software, in general.
As a software company, aSa tries to utilize new technologies when they have practical application to the industries that we serve. Whether it’s a new kind of computer, operating system, printer, or barcode scanner, we are continuously researching new ways to improve our products and your operational processes.
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, it’s time to re-envision the next generation of aSa software products. Our collaboration with Bentley Systems will bring us new CAD/Detailing with 3D rebar models. The next generation aSa shear console is now in development. A new aSa menu is about to be released. Browser-based Internet applications and smart phone apps are on the horizon.
It has been four decades since I first started visiting the aSa office with my Dad. The technology used to run aSa rebar software applications has changed. However, the one thing that has remained constant is our commitment to provide you with the best rebar software and service. We wish you a happy, prosperous New Year and look forward to serving you in the decades to come.
Best regards,
Scott D. LeibPresident/CEO
Letter from the President R E I N F O R C E R
The industry news, user documentation, and program updates that we have been bringing you for years have not changed—they are now just easier to find. The aSa website has more than 500 pages and documents full of useful information. Until now, only a fraction of those were searchable using the website search tool.
In November, we implemented a new search tool that indexes virtually every word of content on the website, ranks results based on the keyword(s), and even includes the supported section of the website (if you are currently logged into the Support site). To use the search, simply type a keyword in the Search field in the upper-left corner of any webpage, or go directly to the aSa Site Search page: asarebar.com/search.aspx
We hope that you find the search tool useful, and we always welcome feedback; send a note to: [email protected].
3WINTER 2010 R E I N F O R C E R
VIEW MORE aSa PRODUCT AND REBAR INDUSTRY NEWSON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com
The Complete Rebar Solution®
Upcoming Webinars
Find What You’re Searching for at asarebar.com
aSa NEWS
Clients enrolled in our subscription plan can take advantage of free web-based training.
The webinars are one-hour training classes free to clients enrolled in our software subscription plan. The sessions begin at 11 a.m. ET. To sign up, log into our Support website at www.asarebar.com/support, then click Webinar Sign-up.
aSa News
With the release of aSa’s v7.2 upgrade (see page 4), MicroStation V8i will become the base CAD platform. For clients running CAD/Detailing on machines that are two years and older, please check with aSa before upgrading. Our consultants will help you determine if your hardware meets the recommended specifications.
Look for upcoming webinars to showcase the benefits of this new release. For additional information, contact aSa CAD Support: [email protected].
Making the Switch to MicroStation V8i With aSa v7.2
January 26 – Using Text Styles and Dimension Styles in aSa CAD/Detailing
February 23 – Rebar Financials Kits and Customer Pricing
March 30 – Using aSa Tie Manager
April 27 – aSa Scheduling Overview
We have redesigned our monthly e-newsletter, the Reinforcer Express. The new design has a cleaner overall layout and makes it easier to locate the topics that interest you. Each issue is filled with timely information as well as hands-on tips to help make you more productive. Sign up to receive this valuable resource at www.asarebar.com.
Reinforcer Express Has a New Look!
For updates, visit www.asarebar.com. Click About aSa > Events Calendar
What’s Happening in Your Shop Right Now?
Receive and relieve stock inventory automatically with barcode scans
Easily manage heat and mill cert information
Know the fabrication status of every bundle
Make smart decisions based on equipment and employee productivity
Eliminate shipping errors
Access Real-Time Fabrication Data With aSa Plant Manager
Set up a “virtual shop” that looks just like your real one
Click on a bin, machine, or trailer for up-to-the-minute or historical fabrication data
Create reports and launch programs directly from the Plant Manager interface
Track Your Material With aSa Barcoding Solutions
With aSa barcoding solutions and our new Plant Manager tool, the answer’s just a click away.
Contact us for more information.
Upcoming Trade Shows
World of Concrete February 2-5, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada at Booth N2612
Bauma Trade FairApril 19-25, 2010, in Munich, Germany
The major release for 2010, aSa ex v7.2 contains a variety of enhancements to
improve your workflow. Features include a new menu, a Production Statistics
window, a way to easily estimate pricing for a bar list, and a new barcode format
for Production tags. Many new features included in this release will be on display
at the World of Concrete convention in Las Vegas, February 2-5, 2010, and the
Bauma International Trade Fair for Construction Equipment convention in Munich,
Germany, April 19-25.
New menu. The aSa Menu has not significantly changed in design or functionality since the original ex release. However, the upcoming v7.2 upgrade release contains significant menu enhancements. The new menu now includes a data view area. You can view information on jobs, estimates, control codes, drawings, and even the aSa Rebar News RSS feed,
without leaving the menu. Useful links to the aSa website, knowledgebase, support site, and meeting sites are also accessible from the menu sidebar, providing a completely self-contained access point for your aSa data and applications.
Another new feature in the aSa Menu that will make your job easier is the My Tasks pane. This allows
you to create shortcuts for frequently used aSa and third-party programs and arrange them in any sequence you like. Using My Tasks to create, manage, and organize these shortcuts lets you access the programs you use most often from a single, convenient location. For frequently accessed programs, eliminating even one or two mouse clicks can save time over the long term.
Coming Soon!A redesigned menu, Bar List to Estimate, Production Statistics window, and a new barcode format for Production tags will all be available in aSa ex 7.2.
Software upgrades are free for companies enrolled in aSa’s Subscription Service.
4 R E I N F O R C E R WINTER 2010
LEARN MORE ABOUT aSa TRAINING SOLUTIONSON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/solutions/trainingWHAT’S NEW
MORE INFO ONLINE www.asarebar.com
New in 7.2 — Making Your Job EasierFrom launching programs to scanning tags, aSa ex v7.2 will make your job easier than ever.
p aSa Menu. View customer,
job, estimate, control code, and
drawing information without ever
leaving the menu. You can easily customize the menu layout to suit your own preferences.
Programs are grouped by module, just as in the previous menu. Multitask easily by opening several programs without leaving the menu interface.
Customization options allow you to change the layout of the menu interface to suit your own preferences. For easy access to aSa modules, you can also dock the menu along any edge of your screen.
Production Statistics window. aSa Production reports provide a full slate of information regarding your shop production. Sometimes, it is useful to have the statistical data available without having to run a full report. The Production Statistics window fills that need. A floating window with three tabs, the new display gives you a glimpse of your production stats while you are working, when you need it, but can be turned off, when you do not.
Bar List to Estimate. Need to get a quick estimate price for a bar list? You can now move bar list data into an estimate and easily create an estimated price for it. There are two ways that you can get the data from Bar List into
Estimating. First, you can use a utility much like Get Bar List Data, which allows you to pull specific information from bar lists into an estimate. Alternately, you can create a new estimate from a bar list, within the Bar List program. Either way, once the bar list data is in an estimate, pricing the project is a snap.
New barcode format. What is the Data Matrix? Smaller. More reliable. Better.
Data Matrix is a 2-D barcode standard that is now used on aSa Production tags. aSa
ex 7.2 takes advantage of this technology to create barcodes that are physically smaller, but more reliable than the previous standard, PDF417. Data Matrix barcodes include error correction codes, enabling them to be read even if the barcode is partially damaged. All existing aSa 2-D scanners are capable of reading the new barcodes. aSa will continue to support the PDF417 and the 1-dimensional (line) barcodes, but upgrading is recommended because of the enhanced features that Data Matrix provides. It is also the preferred format for the new CRSI Mill Tag standard.
5WINTER 2010 R E I N F O R C E R
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE aSa LOCATIONS ON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/contact WHAT’S NEW
The Complete Rebar Solution®
t Production Statistics
Window. View Production stats
easily without having to run a full
report.
t Data Matrix Barcodes.
Smaller and more reliable. Data
Matrix barcodes can now be used with aSa Production. They are also the preferred format for the new CRSI Mill Tag standard.
6 R E I N F O R C E R WINTER 2010 MORE INFO ONLINE www.asarebar.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT aSa SOFTWARE SOLUTIONSON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/solutionsCELEBRATE
Celebrating 40 Years of Service aSa reflects on four decades of providing rebar software technology.
In 40 years, aSa has grown from one full-time employee to nearly 70.
We’ve embraced technologies that were not even imagined in 1969. We’ve
provided software to companies on five continents. So much has changed, but
our core mission has remained the same: developing industry-leading solutions for
the reinforcing steel industry.
In fact, aSa’s very first project was a rebar shearing program for Gerdau Ameristeel in Tampa (then Florida Steel). Gerdau is still a customer today, and an updated version of that shearing program is still used in today’s aSa Production application. Over the years, aSa solutions have grown to include 10 software modules,
hardware and IT services, and the industry-leading aSa Shear Console.
aSa was founded in 1969 by Jim Leib, Elliot Greenman, and Alan Colker, who originally worked together at a firm called CONSAD Research. For the first few months, Jim was the only full-time employee; Alan
and Elliot worked at CONSAD during the day and aSa at night.
Alan was aSa’s first president, but eventually left when the start-up company couldn’t support three full-time employees. Jim, now semi-retired, served as aSa’s chairman and president for 25 years before handing
aSa Historical Timeline 1969 – aSa is founded and moves into its first office in Monroeville Mall, Monroeville, PA.
1970 – aSa is incorporated February 2.
1972 – aSa hosts its first software forum, then called a “Users’ Group Meeting.” The meeting lasted one long day and resulted in the preliminary design of aSa Bar List, which was released in 1973.
1974 – aSa acquires its first computer, a DEC PDP 11/40 mini-computer.
1976 – aSa begins developing a Commercial system to handle rebar contract management and accounting tasks.
1979 – aSa introduces the first version of its rebar Estimating software.
1981 – aSa begins developing Interactive Detailing.
7WINTER 2010 R E I N F O R C E RThe Complete Rebar Solution®
VIEW OUR COMPLETE STAFF DIRECTORYON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/support CELEBRATE
the reigns over to his son, Scott. Elliot, a vice president, is also semi-retired and is still involved in the development of aSa’s shear console. aSa celebrates its “official” birthday February 2, the date the company was incorporated in 1970.
“It’s amazing to think that we have been developing software since 1969. In the early days, aSa rented processing time on large mainframe computers because the company could not afford to purchase its own computer. As technology advanced from mainframes and punch cards to mini-computers to PCs, our software continued to evolve and improve,” says aSa President Scott Leib.
Timeline (continued)
1987 – aSa delivers its first PC system to Rockford Fabricating, Rockford, IL. The same year, aSa installs the first aSa Opto-Shear Console.
1990 – aSa introduces the first generation of its CAD/Detailing system.
1992 – aSa moves into its own office facility in Murrysville, PA.
1997 – aSa begins planning and design for Windows-based rebar software.
2001 – aSa e x with Rebar Financials is released. aSa headquarters expanded by 9,000 square feet of space.
2007 – aSa partners with Bentley Systems to develop the next generation of CAD/Detailing software.
2008 – aSa Australia and aSa Middle East open for business.
2009 – aSa adds two new offices: aSa Europe and aSa Latin America.
t aSa’s Executive Management
Team. (front row) Mitch Leib, Vice
President, Operations; Scott Leib,
President/CEO; Cathy Friend, Vice
President, Software Development;
(back row) David Grundler, Vice
President, Consulting Services; and
Tim Berg, Vice President, Business
Development (p.6).
u In 40 years, aSa has grown from
one small office to an industry leader
with five worldwide locations (right).
In 2009, Frank Zambotti, Director, Systems Integration, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his employment. In 2010, Receptionist Beth Burik celebrates 30 years with the company. Cathy Friend, Vice President, Software Development; Tim Berg, Vice President, Business Development; Mitch Leib, Vice President, Operations; and Linda Barker, Manager, Quality Assurance, all joined the company in 1985, and will celebrate their silver anniversary this year.
Of the 18 people on aSa’s management team, 13 have been with the company for more than 10 years, and eight have worked for aSa more than 20 years. “As we mark our 40th anniversary, it is also time to celebrate our dedicated staff—the real reason for our continued success. Their focus on excellent products and service is what differentiates aSa as we meet the requirements of our customers locally and around the world,” says Scott Leib.
M i d d l e E a s t
A u s t r a l i a
E u r o p e
L a t i n A m e r i c a
aSa Australia Brisbane, Australia
aSa Middle East Dubai, United Arab Emirates
aSa EuropeCardiff, United Kingdom
aSa Latin America San Juan, Puerto Rico
aSa World HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
As we mark our 40th anniversary, it is also
time to celebrate our dedicated staff—the
real reason for our continued success.”“
—Scott Leib, aSa President/CEO
8 R E I N F O R C E R WINTER 2010
VIEW THIS AND OTHER CLIENT SUCCESS STORIESON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/aboutCLIENT SPOTLIGHT
MORE INFO ONLINE www.asarebar.com
When it’s Time to Replace Computers, Fabricators Value aSa IT Expertise Companies rely on aSa IT Services to upgrade hardware, minimize downtime.
Early morning Thursday, October 15, Pittsburgh fabricator Simpson Reinforcing, Inc., had a Terminal Server that wouldn’t boot, leaving most of the office without access to the aSa programs they rely on to do their work.
IT/Applications Consultant Tim Brewer, who lives nearby, went straight to Simpson’s office — rather than coming to aSa — to troubleshoot the problem. (Sometimes, it’s helpful to
be in the same city as aSa’s headquarters!) It didn’t take long for him to realize that the four-year-old server had failed.
Mike Septak, who handles hardware purchases for Simpson, spoke with aSa IT Services Manager Victor Choltco. “I always ask for Vic,” says Mike. “He has helped me in the past … we’ve established a relationship.” Mike and Vic decided the best course of action was to replace
Simpson’s Terminal Server and main file server with aSa-supplied Dell machines as quickly as possible.
aSa had servers in stock, so Vic’s team went to work right away configuring the computers. In the meantime, Tim worked on-site at Simpson, loading client software onto other PCs so employees wouldn’t have to wait for the new Terminal Server in order to do their jobs.
S impson Reinforcing, Inc. – Pittsburgh. A dead Terminal Server … a team of
experts mobilizing to minimize downtime … fast-paced action … it had all the
elements of a good thriller, including the happy ending.
continued on page 12 >
aSa knows the
best system
to use for
running aSa
software ...
the price was
good, and the
setup work
aSa did before
shipping the
computers
helped save me
a lot of time.
“
”Mike Hudson Border Construction Specialties
I appreciate
the fact that
Vic was able
to get out of
the (aSa) office
and come help
us personally.
“
”Mike Septak Simpson Reinforcing, Inc.
p Victor Choltco, Manager, IT
Services keeps aSa’s network
running smoothly while building
great customer relationships.
9WINTER 2010 R E I N F O R C E R
VIEW THIS AND PREVIOUS ISSUES OF THE REINFORCERON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/about aSa/news CUSTOMER SERVICE
The Complete Rebar Solution®
New Implementation BlueprintGuides aSa ServiceGreat service begins with a great plan.
The aSa difference. aSa has developed a plan to ensure that all implementation and training services by aSa consultants are comprehensive and consistent. The “blueprint” covers every step of the process, from the customer’s original contact with the salesperson to post-implementation follow-up.
Blueprint for success. When you schedule service with aSa, you will be provided with a checklist of the major
steps in our implementation blueprint, so you know exactly what to expect from the salespeople, project managers, customer service representatives, and consultants serving your needs.
Best experience, best practices. “We’ve taken the best practices from all aSa consultants and formalized a blueprint, creating consistency across all departments,” says Kim Ley, Manager,
Business Applications. Linda Scolieri, Manager, Business Development, adds, “Providing an outline of the blueprint to the customer, and keeping the customer informed throughout the process, are also part of the plan.”
It starts with a plan. Whether you need a replacement PC, software upgrade, training, or a full enterprise solution, aSa has the experience and dedication to help you succeed.
Y ou wouldn’t construct a building without a blueprint … similarly, you wouldn’t
attempt a major software implementation without a detailed plan to follow.
aSa has your software implementation blueprint.
aSa Implementation Blueprint Process
Pre-SaleWe help determine your needs.
SaleYour information is accurately recorded in our CRM system.
Post-SaleaSa creates an implementation project and sends an implementation survey to you. Your project manager contacts you via a conference call that includes you and key aSa personnel.
Pre-ImplementationThe aSa project manager coordinates all communications for the implementation and training. Using checklists and project charters, aSa consultants work with you to schedule the implementation and training, if required.
On-SiteConsultants organize meetings. Then, they perform the implementation, train users, collect service feedback, and provide training certificates.
Post-ImplementationProject managers review feedback, and then meet with you to discuss the appropriate follow-up.
10 R E I N F O R C E R WINTER 2010
FIND OTHER HELPFUL TOPICS IN OUR KNOWLEDGEBASEON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/supportHOW TO
MORE INFO ONLINE www.asarebar.com
When you reassign a job, all of the job’s existing sales orders, bills of lading, invoices, and special billings change to be associated with the new customer. If pending payments exist, the (AR) Cash Receipts batch must be posted or the payment deleted from the batch before proceeding with the reassignment.
To reassign a customer for a job:
1. In Rebar Financials, click Activities > AR Utilities > Active Job Customer Reassignment.The Active Job Customer Reassignment screen displays. You can reassign a customer on a single job, or process reassignments from a list.
2. Click the Navigator button, then select the Job Number from the list or type the Job Number.3. Click the Lookup tool and select the new customer from the list or type the Customer ID.4. Select one of the two options:
Convert all records – converts all sales orders, bills of lading, invoices, and special billings from the old customer to the new. All reports for this job display with the new customer only. Convert only open records – converts only open (not shipped) sales orders, un-invoiced bills of lading, invoices, and special billings to the new customer. All new transactions will be assigned to the new customer. Posted transactions to the old customer will not be changed. All reports for this job will be displayed with two customers.5. Click Proceed.
A message displays in the lower left corner of the window when the process is complete.
Reassigning a Customer in Rebar Financials
O&A with aSa’s IT StaffIf I’m done with a bar list, is there a way to use the same control code to identify a new bar list? Yes, you can set the old bar list to inactive. However, do not confuse the inactive status with archiving control codes. Setting a control code to an inactive status is not a long-term solution, but intended to be a temporary status. You should regularly archive control codes by exporting them and saving them onto backup media and/or external devices.
In Estimating, packages only offer total weight and total bar feet (meters) in the Answer window; do they break down on the report? Yes, the report shows package takeoff lines. Additionally, in the Answer window, you can click Details to view detailed takeoff for a package.
D O I T Y O U R S E L F
Need a Support Login?
The Support area of our website contains numerous downloads and resources that are available only to clients that participate in the aSa Software Subscription Plan. If you are a supported client, you will need a username and password to log into the site.
To register, browse to: www.asarebar.com/support, then click the Register button.
Reassign job records to a different customer.
11WINTER 2010 R E I N F O R C E R
DOWNLOAD OUR CONTRACT ESTIMATORS AND DETAILERS LIST ON THE WEB @ www.asarebar.com/support NEW aSa CLIENTS
The Complete Rebar Solution®
WELCOME FABRICATORS and SUPPLIERS
WELCOME CONTRACT ESTIMATORS and DETAILERS
GD Collet Pty. Ltd.Guy ColletP.O. Box 230 Glen Forrest, WA 6071 [email protected] +61.08.9274.5681 Bar List Licenses
Mukesh PatelMukesh Patel316 Harts Oak Place Seffner, FL 33584 [email protected]/Detailing License
North AmericaAustral ia
All City Industries, Inc.West Babylon, NY
D&K RebarFort Myers, FL
North America
Xancor, Inc. Victor Sanchez9946 Potter Street Bellflower, CA 90706 [email protected] License
Statewide SteelGeraldton, WA
Important Tech Tip: v6.41 Database Backups
Austral ia
If you run on a stand-alone system or small (2 or 3 workstation) network, be sure you set up a new scheduled database backup after upgrading to v6.41. In v6.3 and earlier, your MSDE database was on the “root” of your server (ServerName). The upgrade from v6.3 or earlier to v6.41 automatically upgraded your database engine to SQL Server Express and created a “new copy” of your database on ServerName\aSa. After the migration, your old database
Changes in SOL backup process critical for MSDE/SQL Express users.
backup job will no longer work. Therefore, you need to set up a new scheduled backup to back up databases on ServerName\aSa. Need help? Download our Database Maintenance Guide from the Documentation Downloads page of the aSa website; refer to the Working With SQL Express chapter. Or, contact a member of aSa’s IT Services team.
To prevent data loss, you need to do two types of backups:
a database backup (described above) which takes a “snapshot” of your database information and saves it in a file format that can be written to storage media.
a system backup, which copies all important data — including the database backup — to storage media, such as an external drive or tape system.
G. Proulx, LLC Building MaterialsDania Beach, FL
U.S. Steel Fabricators, LLCLakeside, CA
< continued from page 8
Track On-hand Stockthe Easy WayEncourage your suppliers to add CRSI standard barcodes to their mill bundle tags.
aSa Bundle Inventory takes the headache out of tracking stock material. Simply scan tags to relieve inventory as you open mill bundles for fabrication. New mill tag barcodes make the system even more convenient: rather than retagging items with aSa-generated stock tags, you can simply scan the mill tags already attached to your material.
The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) recently developed a format for barcodes on mill bundle
By mid-afternoon, Vic, along with aSa Senior Technical Specialist Michael Rathburn, had joined Tim on-site at Simpson’s office. The three worked until after midnight to get the new servers up and running on the network. By Friday morning, Simpson’s employees were back to business as usual. “Everybody did a good job,” says Mike, adding, “I appreciate the fact that Vic was able to get out of the (aSa) office and come help us personally.”
Vic notes, “Under normal circumstances, server migrations are done over a weekend, and it takes around five days of services in total to complete the project. I’m very happy that our team was able to pull its resources together and accomplish those five days of work in about sixteen hours, while minimizing the impact on our customer.”
Border Construction Specialties – Phoenix. Sometimes, computers don’t fail outright, but simply outlive their usefulness. This was the case at Border Construction’s Rebar division in Phoenix. “We had a server and two CAD stations that were way out of date,” explains Mike Hudson, Border’s System Administrator. “Everything was taking twice as long as it should have,” he says. Knowing he needed to
Fabricators Value aSa IT Expertise
replace the hardware, Mike called aSa.
“aSa knows the best system to use for running aSa software. They use the same brand I would have bought on my own (Dell). The price was good, and the setup work aSa did before shipping the computers helped save me a lot of time,” Mike explains. Shortly after his hardware arrived, Mike sent a quick note to aSa Account Executive Gene McCleary: “I have to say that you and your company have been a pleasure to work with. You have kept your commitments, all the products work, and everything was delivered on time. Unfortunately, it seems that these days not many companies can be relied on to accomplish what aSa has done for Border. So again, a big thanks for making my job easier.”
J.C. Rodriguez an IT/Applications Consultant with aSa, helped Mike transfer data from the older server remotely. “J.C. was extremely efficient and knowledgeable,” Mike says, adding, “Everything is working great.”
Chief Detailer Alex Brown was glad to replace his old computer with a new aSa workstation. He says, “The new (computer) is awesome. I see a huge difference in my productivity.”
We’re Listening to YouCustomer suggestions generate aSa improvements.
Our goal is to always improve your experience with aSa. Obvious improvements include an updated software interface, new software modules, or the use of touch-screen technology with our products. More transparent enhancements include our improved call-routing system to answer your questions more efficiently,
tags, and the organization is encouraging all mills to adopt the new standard.
We’ve posted a special document to our website with details about the new barcode, as well as steel mill contact information. Visit www.asarebar.com/crsimill.
or a redesigned database architecture for increased speed. Many of these improvements were sparked by listening to you … our customer.
In the coming year, we plan to redesign the aSa websites to improve your online experience. We have recently improved the appearance and accessibility of aSa Rebar News by adding an RSS feed and implementing new search functionality to help you find the topics you need. Please tell us what you like about our current website and areas you believe need a face-lift. Contact Multimedia Services with your ideas: [email protected].
If your mill tags do not include the CRSI barcode, let your mill representative know that this is an important value-added service that you want.