Translational Research Institute leverage Oracle JD Edwards Financials, eProcurement and Asset Maintenance

Translational Research Institute (TRI) is an Australian-first initiative in the medical research field – bringing the collective intellect of 650+ researchers from the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, the Queensland University of Technology Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Mater Research and Princess Alexandra Hospital Centres for Health Research. 

TRI aims to discover, produce, test and manufacture new therapies and treatments in one location.  Led by renowned Queensland Scientist and 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, the Institute has been made possible due to combined funding from Queensland Government, The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Commonwealth, Queensland University of Technology and University of Queensland.

The Challenge

With the large number of stakeholders, TRI needed a business solution that would work for all parties involved and would provide an environment that enabled all shareholders to work collaboratively.

Within TRI there was a requirement for an efficient fully functional financial system with a focus on supply chain and asset maintenance from both a financial and workplace health and safety perspective.  The solution had to prove its ability to manage physical space and resource limitations and where practical, provide automation and Smart Purchasing.  With a focus on research, TRI wanted a system that would provide efficient and economic administration services, freeing up staff to focus on value add activities.

Not only did TRI want a solution that could help it run its business, the system also had to:

• Provide an environment that enabled all shareholders to work collaboratively
• Provide a solution to manage physical space and resource limitations
• Enable automation where practical, and Smart Purchasing
• Provide efficient and economic administration services
• Provide controls which met accounting standards and statutory requirements for both TRI and its shareholders.

Steps taken

TRI considered a number of ERP vendors during the selection process including SAP, Microsoft and Technology One.  After evaluating the results, Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne was selected as the application that best met the business requirements of TRI and offered the best value for money.

“We wanted Tier 1 functionality without the costs – JDE was a simple decision to make.  Fusion5, our implementation partner, has proven to be lateral thinkers and flexible with their approach, essential in our unusual and ever-evolving environment.” — Kim Goodair, Financial Controller, TRI

The Results

The successful implementation went live and delivered key benefits and results such as:

• Shareholder Costing and Reporting: the system provides seamless integration for shareholder project reporting and procurement
• The system provides flexible and comprehensive charts of accounts for the shareholders
• Smart Purchasing and Requisition Self Service (RSS): providing tools to maximise
• Centralised buying
• The use of preferred supplier catalogues
• Evidence based supplier performance metrics to leverage negotiations
• OH&S control and reporting
• Capital Asset Management: provides facilities and maintenance planning for assets and provides for OH&S management.  Enables reporting of these assets as well as ‘field service’ functionality via iPad
• Receiving Dock Management: provides sophisticated tools to manage:
  • Material expiry dates
  • Max value of hazardous materials onsite
  • Delivery scheduling
  • JIT (future strategy)
  • Barcode scanning at dock and at floor ‘grab’ stock