Con-Way selects CCSS to support its IBM iSeries platform

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Con-Way, a $4.2 billion global enterprise that serves in excess of 400,000 customers and employs over 20,000 people, has selected systems management specialist CCSS to support daily operations on its IBM iSeries platform.

CCSS’s QSystem Monitor solution monitors the performance of Con-Way’s iSeries network for optimal operating conditions and brings a new level of visibility to the team that manage it, says Stephen Wilks, senior system programmer/iSeries administrator for Con-Way.

One of the key benefits of implementing the solution, he says, is ensuring that the transportation management system (TMS) that runs on the iSeries has maximum uptime. QSystem Monitor alerts to potential problems.

“If we encountered a significant problem on the iSeries and were unable to resolve it quickly, it could breech our service level agreements and that would mean disruption to our operations and possible revenue losses for every minute the system was down. That’s just not an option,” Wilks says.

Wilks also cites the extensive automation in QSystem Monitor as a major benefit. His job responsibilities include frequent meetings so any problems that do occur are immediately identified for fast resolution.

“It really saves time; there’s no digging around trying to find out if something is a problem and why – it’s all right in front of you. We don’t need to constantly monitor the systems physically, that is a job we can automate, which makes it efficient for us to manage the systems. The heightened visibility of any potential problems allows us to execute an immediate response.”

Wilks also uses QSystem Monitor’s Job Accounting feature to understand the resource demands of their existing customers which becomes an effective way to scale and price for similar use by new customers.