“We had been dissatisfied with the efficiency of our existing safety monitoring and data manipulations systems for some time,” recalls Michael Miller, Finance Manager based at Longannet power station. “Comprising a collection of bought-in, and in-house generated software packages, they were definitely not ‘year 2000’ compliant and as we had little confidence in the accuracy of data they provided we backed them up with manual systems. These factors, combined with the need to comply with the new Working Time Regulations, acted as a catalyst for us to look for a more reliable replacement.”
Apart from full-time staff, Scottish Power employs a large number of contractors on a cyclical basis. During a major ‘outrage; overhaul project numbers can vary from a few regular maintenance teams, up to an additional 1000 contractors, on any one site. For Health and Safety Purposes it is essential that we keep track of all these extra people.
“Primarily, therefore we required a software package to register the whereabouts of employees and contractors for safety reasons, but we also wanted to validate hours worked for manpower planning and invoice checking purposes.” “Learning from our past mistakes, of adding different elements to an off-the-shelf base package, we decided to opt for a supplier who could provide a complete system which included not only the expertise in Time and Attendance monitoring but also a comprehensive support and future growth package.”
Crown Computing Limited was selected through recommendation and for its ability to supply, not only a Windows based T&A software package, but also an efficient shift management system, which Scottish Power had already considered tagging onto its old system.
“Crown’s new Open Options T&A module, operating on Windows’95 NT and Oracle goes further than a mere monitory tool,” continues Michael Miller. “It provides us with a number of solid advantages, such as the ability to write our own manpower planning reports, and provide statistical information on, sickness, holidays, training courses etc.
