Cooper Tire & Rubber adopts Infonet to manage automotive IT network

Automotive products manufacturer Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has selected global communications services management company Infonet to manage and support its critical applications and networks globally. The firm says it expects to be able to offer improved customer service and better performance, while also lowering network operations costs. Cooper says that following a series of acquisitions, it found it no longer had the resources to manage a network that had grown to span more than 55 locations in 13 countries. The firm wanted a centralised network provider to manage the entire system outside the US and handle the demands of its distributed network applications. Infonet was engaged to prioritise the system applications, across a single managed global network, replacing both managed and unmanaged frame relay network service and point-to-point leased lines. Cooper reckons its Infonet network will now support current and future company wide applications, including JD Edwards and PeopleSoft ERP systems, its email and intranet-based services. Not only is Infonet providing flexibility with managed solutions, but also reliable 24 x 7 global application support for the network. “We expect benefits in all areas, especially in improved customer service thanks to an improved performance,” says Loren Wagner, manager of network services for Cooper. And he adds: “Cooper is always evaluating its position for ways to improve performance, lower costs or provide improved operations to remain competitive. Infonet’s global presence, its ability to provide in-country support and its willingness to work with our other major supplier, Qwest, demonstrated their flexibility and commitment to customer success.”