Linamar simplifies operations with world-class data solutions

Netagen (rebranded from Combat Networks) provided the perfect solution for Linamar.

Automotive, energy, and mobile parts manufacturers turn to Netagen and Avaya to provide uniform, centralized communications that save on costs.

Challenge
Linamar Corporation is a world-class designer and manufacturer of metallic components and systems for the automotive industry, and energy and mobile industrial markets. Based in Guelph, the company operates plants across the globe and, in turn, relies on precision and attention to detail to produce the best possible products. Linamar knows the importance of using finely calibrated instruments to get the job done, yet when it came to the company’s data management solution, data network infrastructure, and the system the team depended on to power the company’s communications wasn’t up to par.

“Linamar has many locations across the globe, and there was no uniform footprint in terms of network architecture from one plant to the next,” says John Biel, Network Architect at Linamar. “There was different equipment installed in different plants from different manufacturers, and it was challenging to centrally manage.”

“Linamar is a diversified, global manufacturing company that moves quickly to identify and capture market opportunities,” adds David Patterson, President, Netagen, the Avaya partner who helped implement the new solution. “The pace of change, rapid acquisitions, and entrepreneurial spirit makes it exciting for Combat to work with Linamar to keep the networks current and managed centrally.”

Solution
Among the many reasons for a solid data solution, Linamar needed an automated system that would pull data from production lines: this would verify quality and production schedules and improve efficiencies overall.

When Linamar decided to upgrade its data network worldwide, it turned to Netagen to provide an Avaya data networking solution that could easily be implemented.

Linamar required a multi-site, future-proof network solution that would create redundancy and make it easier to upgrade the system down the line without drastically changing the infrastructure. As such, several Avaya products were used to get Linamar’s simpler, centralized, and more affordable data network up and running.

Some of the products include:

• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 8800: The ERS 8800 is a proven, tested, resilient, and intelligent network solution that scales, delivering hundreds of gigabits per second and hundreds of millions of packets per second of real-world performance to the core. This flexible architecture reduces the complexity of network design, making it ideal for large-scale enterprise campuses.
• Virtual Services Platform 7000: VSP 7000 provides cost-effective, 10GbE consolidation for existing core switch deployments and can deliver flexible connectivity options in the campus distribution layer.
• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 4800: The Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 4800 Series is a stackable system providing high-performance, convergence-ready, data network security and resilient Ethernet switching connectivity.
• Avaya Wireless LAN 8100: The WLAN 8100 Series enables enterprises greater productivity and operations efficiency through a unified wireless/wired architecture. It offers greater wireless capacity and performance through a simplified network infrastructure. It is optimized to support real-time applications such as voice, unified communications, and video.

Today, Linamar harnesses the power of its new data infrastructure to better produce products on their manufacturing floor. When Linamar is producing an engine block on a production line, the process of moving the product from machine to machine is fully automated, notes Biel.

“Ethernet allows our machines to communicate using Avaya’s standards-based solutions, as well as our own in-house Manufacturing Monitoring System, instead of depending on a specific vendor’s proprietary system,” says Biel. “And it’s not just the machines on the floor that depend on the new network; everyone from the office staff to those operating the company’s ERP system is benefiting.”

Also, with Avaya’s global presence, the standard for the solution can be set in Guelph and then be quickly and easily rolled out in all other Linamar locations worldwide.

“Linamar has many locations across the globe, and there was no uniform footprint in terms of network architecture from one plant to the next. There was different equipment installed in different plants from different manufacturers, and it was challenging to centrally manage.”
—John Biel, Network Architect at Linamar

Benefits

Simplicity
The Avaya technology has made it much easier for the IT department to provide support as now there is one solution in all the company’s locations. VSP 7000s provide 10 GbE access to Linamar’s virtualized data centers for fast and reliable access to critical manufacturing data using Avaya’s Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) technology.

“Our IT team is small, so it was very difficult to have a few people manage multi-vendor solutions in locations around the globe,” says Biel. “But with the new data solution we support just one system – drastically accelerating problem resolution and reducing travel in situations where we previously had to be on site.”

Cost savings
Because Linamar now has one robust data solution, it does not have to spend money to maintain and upgrade multiple systems and locations — it is one system with one price tag.

The data management solution has also increased the productivity of manufacturing processes on the plant floor, as workers on the production line now have access to computers that automate many of the production processes, making things run quicker and smoother.

“Centralization of our data network has not only made our IT support easier but it’s also saved the company money,” says Biel. “It’s much more cost-efficient to run the one system than it is to run multiple solutions.”

Ease of implementation
The solution was also easily rolled out to Linamar locations around the world, thanks in part to the superiority of the product and Avaya’s global presence.

“Because of Avaya’s global footprint, we can easily set the standard here in Guelph of how we want our systems to run and then the local plant can easily procure and implement the same solution in Europe or Mexico,” says Biel. “The rollout has been extremely easy.”

Room for Growth
Because Avaya data solutions are highly resilient and adaptable, they make centralizing all communications applications extremely easy, something that Linamar is now doing with its voice portfolio.

“The data solution has been great, and now we’re in the process of upgrading our telephone systems as well,” says Biel. “We’re introducing Avaya IP Office into many of our locations, and are looking forward to fully using all the collaboration tools at our disposal.”

• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switches 8800
• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switches 5000
• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switches 4000
• Avaya Ethernet Routing Switches 3500
• Avaya Virtual Services Platform 7000
• Avaya Wireless LAN 8100
• IP Office™ Platform

“Centralization of our data network has not only made our IT support easier but it’s also saved the company money. It’s much more cost-efficient to run the one system than it is to run multiple solutions.”
—John Biel, Network Architect at Linamar

About Netagen
Netagen (formerly Combat Networks) is a national, full-service integrator, focusing on deploying Unified Communications, Video Collaboration, and Data Networking Solutions. Netagen provides full life cycle systems support starting with engineering and design, through implementation, and concluding with ongoing service and maintenance. Netagen has grown since its launch in 2001 to become the largest independent supplier of Avaya solutions in Canada, with national offices located in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

About Linamar
Linamar Corporation is a world-class designer and diversified manufacturer of precision metallic components and systems for the automotive industry, and energy and mobile industrial markets. Building on the foundation of more than 40 years of successful growth, Linamar Canada is a leading-edge supplier of engine, transmission, driveline, modules, systems, and mobile aerial work platforms. To learn more, please visit linamar.com.