IGL Newsletter February 2008

19/02/2008 6:14 am

Icon Global Link Quarterly News Update

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· ISES® a new .NET® SQL® tool to replace HEAT™

· KPMG teams with Icon Global Link and ISES® to deliver Enterprise Wide Risk Systems

· International Food Chain Integrity and Traceability Project Moving to next phase

· Metcash rolls out Icon Global Links new pre requisite program for approved suppliers

· HEAT™ Update 1.07.06

ISES® a new .NET® SQL® tool to replace HEAT™

Whilst HEAT™ has assisted some of Australia’s leading food manufacturers and water authorities in the development and maintenance of their HACCP based risk plans for the last decade the Microsoft ® Access ® Based product no longer meets the minimum system requirements of most larger organisations IT departments. Business critical data across multiple sites requires the robustness of a SQL database. The front end of Microsoft ® Access ® is also limiting compared with new Microsoft ® .NET ® tools which offer superior ease of use, functionality and flexibility. Whilst data from HEAT™ can be imported into the new ISES® platform and all existing HEAT™ functionality is available existing HEAT™ users will be amazed and even astounded at the new functionality especially with flowcharting which is more akin to products such as Microsoft ® Viso ®. The table below attempts to summarise the differences:

Feature	HEAT™	ISES®
Relational Database	Microsoft Access 2000	Microsoft SQL Server
Front end	VB6 + MS Access 2000	.NET
User interface	Many levels	Single level
Plan format	Fixed format editable headings	Windows Explorer type functionality
Document contents	Limited to fixed forms	Customisable rich text Word Editor with ability to import MS Word documents
Document control	Limited to 1 change for entire plan	Specific document control per document
PDF Writer	Not supported	Export of all reports to PDF
Flowcharting	VB6 + MS Access 2000	.NET
Pages	4 pages wide x 4 pages high	Unlimited
Main flow / Sub flow	Single level	Unlimited
Shapes	Limited to HACCP pallet	Multitude and custom
Shapes	Text only	Rich text editing
Lines	Basic line drawing	Advanced line drawing
Direction	Single direction	Unlimited
Shape connection	Unique points	Unlimited
Line cross over	Not supported	Customisable humps
Shape Redraw	Not supported	Move and re draw dynamic
Copy and paste	Limited through flowchart	Every aspect from steps, risks, documents, folders
Risk systems	Single HACCP risk system for integrity and quality	Unlimited risk systems, HACCP, OHS, EMS, Quality, KPI, Bio security, COR
Risk Matrix	Single risk matrix	Multiple risk matrix
Decision trees	Fixed codex decision tree	Customisable by risk system
Hazard Analysis Wizards	Multiple levels complex	Single level simple to use
Control Point table Wizards	Multiple levels complex	Single level simple to use
Report filtering	Limited filtering of control point table	Advanced filtering of all reports
Plan or data sharing	Not supported	Export / Email / Import at any level

Whist plans produced by ISES® will comply with Codex based HACCP they can also be applied to any other risk system in the business. This does not mean that you have to use it for multiple risk systems but it does mean that you have the option to do so in the future.

Below is a review from a new ISES® user in the water industry:

A major feature of the Icon Global Link software is the ability to incorporate user definable “decision trees” to step system users through a hierarchy of risk treatment that reflects the regulated or accepted control hierarchies of various risk systems. This aids in demonstrating due diligence to auditors, regulators and other interested parties. Added to this is the ability to perform multiple system assessments against one process. For example, consider the process of chemical management which may be simply put as follows: Purchase · Receipt · Storage · Handling · Disposal. Each step in the process may be split into sub-steps depending on the complexity within the workplace systems, and each may contain certain OH&S risks . B ut what about environment, water quality, operations and financial risks ? Under traditional risk management systems, the risks associated with these other ‘risk systems’ would (or may) be addressed quite separately, often conducted in isolation, probably held in separate registers and have no linkage with each other. Using Icon Global Link’s (ISES) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Module the process is recorded only once, then individual risk systems may be used to assess and provide a risk rating, and then determine treatment options using the user definable decision trees. However, the overall assessment and management process is maintained in the one location within the ORM. Thus the integrity of each decision tree is maintained (satisfying audit requirements), but the whole process can be ‘overseen’ by the business risk manager/risk management coordinator and is visible to all parties, including senior management and the Board. The breadth of application of the ORM is limited only by the skill and imagination of the user. Apart from the traditional areas of OH&S, environment and drinking water quality, “decision trees” for risk treatment options can be developed to suit financial risk management issues, project management, hazard and operability studies (HAZOPS) and any other organisational decision-making process. Another plus is the ability to incorporate strategic risks that have been identified in the Strategic Risk Module (SRM) and use the ORM to conduct detailed analyses of those risks and as a tool for the ongoing management of them. Tony Smith , Manager Business Risk and Compliance, East Gippsland Water

Existing clients can now install a trial of ISES® and have some of their existing data imported for a comparison.

New clients can trial the ISES® software with example data.

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KPMG teams with Icon Global Link and ISES® to deliver Enterprise Wide Risk Systems

KPMG in partnership with Icon Global Link are working together to provide organisations with an Enterprise Wide Risk Management System. The backbone of the offering is Icon Global Link’s newly released ISES® suite of software tools. Projects will range from a risk health check-up diagnostic to a fully integrated risk management roll-out. There will be kick-off presentations to the market in Melbourne and Sydney in the coming weeks. Contact us for more details.

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International Food Chain Integrity and Traceability Project Moving to next phase

All 24 nodes of the dairy and beef supply chains from Victoria to final consumer in the USA have been assessed for integrated risks associated with supply chain security. The steering committee has reviewed the supply chain summaries and is confident that the hypothesis proposed by the project has been demonstrated. The steering committee is now finalising funding and agreements for the last part of the inception phase of the project – the high level design. This phase will take critical risks essential for supply chain custody, integrity, traceability and pedigree and will show how existing systems can be used to link up the supply chain. Gaps in data capture or sharing capabilities will also be addressed during the high level design. The commercial partners have been given a list of supply chain efficiency opportunities that were also identified during the supply chain assessments. The high level design and costs are expected to be completed in the next few months which will be followed by a pilot project that will then implement the high level design for testing. Following this key learning’s will be disseminated to international supply chains. The outcome of this project will be a true real time end to end ISO22000 accreditation that complies will all documentation and legislative requirements during trade of products between Australia and other countries. Icon Global link are now offering supply chain assessment services in conjunction with leading consultancies. Please contact us for more details.

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Metcash rolls out Icon Global Links new pre requisite program for preferred suppliers

An exciting new .net pivot table technology has been incorporated into Icon Global Links Latest .net / SQL software for managing approved suppliers and is now fully functional at the IGA Metcash head office. The software has been designed for any business to manage preferred suppliers and their certificates. The pivot table functionality makes the reporting in this SQL database tool quite unique in so far as the operator can produce their own What You See is What You Get (WYSIWYG) reports. Now that this is complete we will be working on the customer complaints and incident management side. This software is a module of the new ISES suite of products which the directors of Icon Global Link expect to launch the company to global leaders in integrated supply chain risk management. Please contact us for more details.

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