RAK Ceramics has started the implementation of the SAP ERP system at its RAK plants and head office on April 24, 2012.

"The project started on April 24th with a meeting of the SAP Program Manager and Project Manager with the RAK Business Process Owners where SAP presented the high level project plan details. Various queries of the participants were answered and a comprehensive, common understanding about the objectives, program, timelines and success factors for the project was developed among the participants.

Mr. Khaled A. Yousef, member, board of directors, RAK and Mr. AbdallahMassaad, Dy. CEO, RAK were also present. They stressed upon the need for pro-active change in processes for better business control and for unconditional collaboration among the departments for making a complete success of the project. SAP is slated to Go Live on Jan.1, 2013.

SAP CORE/POWER USER TEAM MEET CREATES HUGE EXCITEMENT

On April 29, 2012 the first meeting of the SAP project teams – Core Users, Power Users and the SAP consultants, was held to agree on the methodology and timelines for implementation of SAP at RAK Ceramics. The meeting was a full house with all members participating with enthusiasm.

SAP Program Director, Syed Ibrahim Quadri, explained the ASAP implementation methodology for implementing SAP and presented the teams, the implementation plan, timelines, milestones and deliverables for the implementation at SAP. He brought forth the roles and responsibilities of the teams involved from both sides and discussed the critical success factors as well as the risk mitigation measures.

Post-lunch, the teams engaged in a creative team building exercise. The SAP and RAK Ceramics team members were grouped into six mixed teams. Each one was entrusted with the task of creating a large pyramid out of cardboard. The six pyramids were finally put together to make one gigantic pyramid and everyone signed on it as a gesture of collaboration and teamwork. The teams were visibly excited.

The evening session discussed the business blueprinting process. Amit Upadhyaya, Program Manager, SAP talked about the blueprinting process, the expectations from team members, guidance and risk factors. The creation of the business blueprint will be preceeded by the exercise of mapping the RAK Ceramics organization structure into SAP. The org structure mapping will commence with an education session to the project teams starting April 30th and the blue printing is expected to begin on May 17th. The core team will be attending the intense sessions at the SAP PMO everyday from 2 p.m. onwards.

The meet ended with an address by the SAP Global Delivery-Consulting Director, Sharat Krishna Menon. Dinesh Mohan, GM-SAP Projects, RAK Ceramics delivered the note of thanks.