Minerals Technologies Provides Decision-Makers with Better Analytics and Standardizes Processes with Upgraded, Cloud-Based Global Enterprise Application Suite
 
 

Minerals Technologies Provides Decision-Makers with Better Analytics and Standardizes Processes with Upgraded, Cloud-Based Global Enterprise Application Suite

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Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of specialty mineral, mineral-based, and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services. The company’s Specialty Minerals segment produces and sells the synthetic mineral product precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and the processed mineral product quicklime (lime), and mines, processes, and sells other natural mineral products, primarily limestone and talc. This segment’s products are primarily used in the paper, building materials, paint and coatings, glass, ceramic, polymer, food, and pharmaceutical industries. The company’s Refractories segment produces and markets monolithic and shaped refractory materials and specialty products, services, and application equipment primarily used by the steel, nonferrous metal, and glass industries.

By developing and introducing technologically advanced, new products, Minerals Technologies has been able to anticipate and satisfy changing customer requirements, and to create market opportunities through new product development and product application innovations.

 
 

 
 

Challenges

A word from Minerals Technologies Inc.

  • “With Oracle Managed Cloud Services, we gained a hassle-free enterprise system that meets the needs of our complex, global business. With Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1, our users around the world have timely, accurate data to drive smart business decisions.” – Khem Balkaran, Chief Information Officer and Head of Global Business Services, Minerals Technologies Inc.

  • Provide global visibility into all financial, manufacturing, and logistics data across two business segments, 25 countries, and 60 manufacturing plants, worldwide, for the specialty materials provider
  • Minimize IT complexity, as well as time and money spent on maintenance, support, and administration
  • Tighten turnaround time for external and internal reporting to facilitate faster decision-making
  • Support the company as it continues to rapidly expand worldwide to meet the needs of its paper and steel industry customers

Solutions

Oracle Product and Services

  • Improved business agility and enabled the company to expand quickly in new geographies by running a single instance of Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1 to help standardize global operations for greater efficiency
  • Reduced IT support requirements and improved system reliability by hosting the application suite on Oracle Managed Cloud Services
  • Used Oracle Financials to streamline the record-to-report process, enabling the company to frequently review transactions for a more efficient closing process, rather than waiting until month-end
  • Reduced the time needed to close the month-end books from nine days to three days
  • Provided visibility into cash requirements and payment terms to enable more effectively managing suppliers’ payment terms and compliance levels
  • Enabled the company to view each customer’s shipping history individually, automate the cash collection process, and manage customer relationships more proactively
  • Provided the ability to generate weekly, rather than monthly, sales reports—offering better insight into deals and pending sales to enable management to make more effective planning decisions
  • Implemented Oracle Enterprise Asset Management to more effectively track product warranties and material inventory, as well as improve the ability to schedule proactive equipment maintenance as needed across all 60 plants, worldwide
  • Supported a complex process manufacturing system with recipe-based manufacturing capabilities that help the company manage costing for inherently variable chemical products
  • Supported order volume of nearly 1,200 shipments or transfers (for on-premise manufacturing) per month
  • Improved integration between Oracle E-Business Suite and Oracle’s Siebel Customer Relationship Management and provided stronger support for mobile technology with the upgrade to Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1
  • Benefited from a dedicated Oracle service delivery manager and seamless access to Oracle expertise, all of which simplifies internal system support efforts

Why Oracle

Minerals Technologies implemented Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1 on Oracle Managed Cloud Services because it wanted to focus on how it leveraged the application suite to improve its business processes, rather than focus on managing hardware, security, and system performance.

“Oracle is a true partner and is the best in the business. With Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1 and Oracle Managed Cloud Services, we have insight into every aspect of our business and can truly focus on leveraging the value of the technology across our global processes, instead of managing the technology itself.”

Implementation Process

Minerals Technologies first implemented Oracle E-Business Suite in 2003 in the United States. From 2005 to 2008, it rolled the application suite out to its other geographies.

In 2012, Minerals Technologies upgraded to Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12.1, completing the nine-month project on time. During the migration cycle, the Oracle team worked around the clock to support multiple trial migrations and subsequent troubleshooting. The team also migrated a number of localizations to support Minerals Technologies’ multinational business.

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