solvay_live243_p02a04 somEdito

MATRIX RELOADED...
WITH THE SUPPORT OF BILL
A MULTIDIMENSIONAL
MATRIX TO MASTER CHEOPS
Imagine a huge matrix, multidimensional
of course, and that contains billions
of figures: the Group’s entire financial
memory and forecasts.
Every day, managers and controllers analyse
the trends and use them to back up their
operational or strategic decisions. With
a wealth of information on 260 companies,
the matrix contains no fewer than 140 GB
of data, or 22 million entries, accessible
by around 600 users. But its supporting systems
were running out of steam.
And the demands to make it better, faster
and cheaper, were continuously increasing.
That is why it became necessary to redefine
the matrix. First of all, by setting up new
processes, aimed in particular at shortening
the publication times of the annual accounts
and also by migrating the matrix into a SQL
database accessible via the Microsoft tools,
in the best interests of all users. And this is
where Bill comes into it! Thanks to an
original partnership between Solvay
(SIS and DCFi) and Microsoft, the transfer
between the former database and the new
one went smoothly and the cost was kept
down. Long live the “matrix”, also known as,
yes you’ve guessed it, Cheops.
> Stéphane Collignon; Luc Barbeaux;
Harold de Laveleye; Michel Joannes.
> DCFi-SIS
102068
104275 SOLVIN, THE PARTNER IN VINYLS
FOR AUTOMOTIVE MASTIC MANUFACTURERS
VISCOSITY UPON
CUSTOMERS REQUEST
Car makers are putting increasing pressure
on parts manufacturers to obtain high
tech products. For example, the PVC mastics
that they use are so specific, in particular
in terms of viscosity, that the producers are
finding it difficult to come up with
raw materials that are appropriate for
their products. Few qualities are available.
In partnership with Henkel Surface
Technologies, a car parts manufacturer for
the sector SolVin developed, back in 2001,
a new PVC resin for this market. The
collaboration with this client was intense
and a large quantity of information was
exchanged relating to the specifications,
the analytical methods and the results.
What’s more: SolVin supplied Henkel with
several series of samples that the latter was
able to evaluate in depth. The joint research
led to industrial trials in 2003.
Since then, SolVin has integrated the new
resin into its global offer and supplies
different mastic manufacturers generating,
at the end of the day, an increase in this
business. The new resin quality is being
promoted among clients of other segments
that could benefit from the progress it brings
for applications that call for specific
viscosities. Furthermore, it paves the way for
further fruitful cooperation with Henkel
and already gives an additional boost to the
high-tech and privileged partner image
enjoyed by SolVin.
> Séverine Rochard; Hervé Boisson;
Olivier Brulard; Jean-Pierre Steinmetz.
> SBU VINYLS
© PSA
Customer oriented projects
J U L Y 2 0 0 6
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