Cummins turbocharges global PC savings

Diesel manufacturer Cummins says it’s notched up reductions in its annual computer costs of 30% as a result of standardising on ThinkPad notebooks, ThinkCentre desktops, and IntelliStation workstations. The finding comes eight months afer a massive roll-out: IBM helped Cummins to install some 20,000 machines in 212 locations across 24 countries, with 12 languages – in just under 17 weeks. That’s what you call rapid deployment. The programme, called Power Sweep, grew out of a Six Sigma project led by Jane Kennedy, IT director at Cummins. She says analysis of the previous computing environment demonstrated that Cummins would get significant savings by eliminating variation in computer systems, software offerings, procurement processes, and support. And she adds that renewing computers at regular intervals globally would keep the firm at a lowest total costs desktop lifecycle. “After about 12 months of planning,” she says, “we started the roll-out, first with some key changes to our infrastructure. Then, from mid-May to September 2003, we rolled the machines and pushed out software electronically. “We were certain of the cost savings, and now, eight months into the programme, our experience is bearing that out. “The best part, however, might just be the soft savings. Comments about ease of working, the power of the machines, and productivity improvements are still coming in.” She says Cummins chose IBM for the initiative because of the sheer scale. “We needed a partner that could deliver more than just computers. From on-site project management to configuration, installation, asset tracking and disposal and, finally, celebration, IBM confirmed that we had made the right choice.”