Flexibility in responding to evolving customer requirements is essential for success in a contract environment.

Avanco begins each project by completely analyzing and understanding our client's business processes. Avanco factors in cost, schedule, and technical requirements to develop a project implementation plan that meets all client needs.

Avanco keeps in mind that budgets, schedules and technical requirements will evolve and change, sometimes on short notice; and Avanco is always prepared to respond quickly to provide the best professional support and the most advanced systems to achieve client goals.

Finally, confidence is earned when our clients believe business is conducted with high standards for quality, integrity, and ethics. At Avanco, we work hard to build a bond of corporate trust with all of our clients.

Some Of Our Satisfied Clients

DISAM
Crawford County of Pennsylvania
Select Medical Corporation
USA Today - Gannet Corporation
US Army Corps of Engineers
Redland Genstar Corporation
Defense Investigative Service
US Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service
Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Cable and Wireless, Inc.
Fairfax Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
Naval Air Systems Command, Cruise Missile Project Office
PICA Insurance Company of America
Rohm Electronics
Sato Travel

 Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management

Project Requirements

The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy Support) (OUSD-P) identified a requirement to develop a course to train DoD personnel working in all aspects of the international security arena. OUSD(P) designated the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) as the organization to oversee the administration and support of a Department of Defense curriculum supporting instruction of an International Programs Security course for DoD government and contractor professionals. The course requirements include instructional materials and knowledgeable instructors to support training in all aspects of International Security and DoD technology transfer to include aspects of National Disclosure Policy, the National Security Policy Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Export Administration Act. Avanco International was chosen to provide the instructional support for DISAM.

Avanco's Solution

Avanco continued to provided knowledgeable personnel who possessed the required breadth of experience to help solve DISAM's task of presenting International Programs Security Requirements courses of various lengths at various locations to a wide-range of audiences. More specifically, Avanco's solution included:

Avanco provides International Security and Policy experts that possess an unparalleled breadth of practical experience to present International Programs Security Requirements training for DISAM throughout the country and overseas. Classes have been tailored to various lengths for a wide-range of audiences. More specifically, Avanco's training solution includes:

•  A five-day International Programs Security Requirements Course
•  A two-day International Programs Security Requirements Course
•  Course Maintenance and Updates
•  Additional Training Support
•  Studies, Analyses and Recommendations

Avanco's Accomplishments

Avanco presents a 5-day and 2 day International Programs Security Requirements Course several times a month. Avanco maintains and updates course materials including the syllabus, lesson plans, lesson summaries, student handbook, quizzes, final examination, and critique sheets. Avanco provides principal instructors and consulting guest speakers, all former Government and contractor officials from the international security programs arena, to conduct courses throughout the United States and Europe. The course material is continuously modified and enhanced as new laws, regulations, directives, policy memoranda and other official documents are revised by the Department of Defense and the federal government. This course is designed for individuals who are action officers, analysts dealing with various aspects of international security programs, contracting officers, and contractor personnel and is tailored to the specific audience (i.e. intelligence, security assistance, technology transfer, treaty negotiations). The course is fully accredited, offering college-level accreditation for those that take the full course.

Crawford County of Pennsylvania

Business Problem

In the first quarter of 2002 the government of Crawford County began an initiative to implement systems that would integrate and enhance their use of data and information for county government decision making and process management. The initiative was directed by the county commissioners and intended to incorporate a variety of financial data sources into a single analytical data warehouse environment. The immediate objectives were focused on county fiscal budget management and monitoring as well as general information sharing between all county departments. A suite of Oracle tools was selected for this purpose. Avanco International, Inc. was selected as a solutions vendor to understand the business requirement and utilize the chosen toolset to develop a solution that facilitates county objectives.

Avanco solution

Avanco assisted in hardware selection and completed all installation and configuration of the Oracle 9i Application Server including the Oracle database environment. Following the implementation of the Oracle infrastructure Avanco completed research on county requirements for an integrated decision support solution. Department managers and county commissioners were interviewed by Avanco consultants to ascertain their business and reporting needs. A particular focus was placed on financial analysis requirements including: General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Budget Preparation, Budget Analysis, Payroll, Human Resources, Fixed Assets and Cash Receipting. Following the research phase, Avanco designed a financial data warehouse based on a dimensional modeling methodology, built automated extract routines, and utilized Oracle Data Warehouse Builder to perform recurring data loads of financial information on a weekly basis. A diverse set of decision support reporting functions were developed including: online financial reports, ad-hoc data analysis, parameter driven executive systems and analytical views. The developed applications were utilized by non-technical staff and managers to quickly analyze data in a manner that was previously thought to be impossible. The entire system build process was completed in a four month period. Decision support applications were developed utilizing Oracle Discoverer, Forms and Reports.

More recently, Avanco has developed a web portal to replace the original HTML menu system and provide secure internet and intranet access to the decision support systems. The implementation of the Crawford County portal application utilizing Oracle Portal offers anytime / anywhere access to critical information in a fully secure and timely manner for better decision making. County officials are pleased with these capabilities and this new environment has fostered a variety of forward thinking ideas to accentuate these new efficient methods of communicating and sharing information.

Back to Client List

Select Medical Corporation

Business Problem

Select Medical Corporation (SMC) manages a national network of specialized, acute healthcare facilities and services including long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and contract therapy services. In April 2001, Select Medical began a conversion of billing and collection systems, distributing processing across each of Select Medical's five Central Billing Offices regionally located through-out the country. At the same time, Select Medical Corporation management recognized a need to develop a Data Warehouse to "facilitate budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial trend reporting" from the distributed revenue information.

Avanco solution

Avanco analysts researched, documented and received executive approval for a business requirements definition performed for the proposed analytical data environment. Select Medical management, business analysts, and associated vendors were interviewed as part of this process. Avanco assisted in the determination of hardware selection, operating system, database platform, and software as well as the end-user application development environment and analytical tools. The determination was made to support only a web enabled User Interface environment using the Oracle 9i Application Server. Avanco performed all software installation, configuration, and tuning. Based on the user requirements definition document, a data warehouse was designed and built using a relational Dimensional Modeling design (Star Schema). In addition a staging database was designed and built to house staged data in a subject oriented fashion. Avanco assisted in the design of extract routines to retrieve and load required data from the billing systems in an incremental fashion. Data cleansing, transformation, incremental loading, indexing, aggregation and performance routines were all built by the Avanco specialists to manage the data environment. Avanco created an Oracle Discoverer metadata repository supported by the dimensional database and created a web-based reporting environment. Upon deployment, Avanco assisted in the development of a training curriculum for end users to understand and fully utilize the business and technical environment supported by the Data Warehouse and reporting tools. A variety of customized reports were developed by Avanco based on management requirements. Several self-service, parameter driven analytical tools were developed by Avanco to provide intuitive just in time end user reporting.

Back to Client List

USA Today - Gannet Corporation

Using PowerBuilder and Oracle7, Avanco designed an information system for USA Today's nationwide customer base that tracks subscriber payments and requests. The system, running on the local RS/6000 UNIX network, communicates with the AS/400 national network and performs interactive, high speed processing and data transfer.

Analyzing corporate information needs and user requirements Avanco designed a single application incorporating advanced GUI design and object oriented techniques. A user-friendly menu and toolbar provide immediate access to all application functions and screens. Metamorphic windows simplify navigation and improved user productivity. Scanning and OCR technologies reduce payment processing and input errors.

Back to Client List

US Army Corps of Engineers

Avanco supports the full range of life cycle development and maintenance activities for the Army Corps of Engineers enterprise financial and management systems to include the Corps of Engineers Financial Management System (CEFMS) and the headquarters based Corps of Engineers Executive Management Information System (CEEMIS). Avanco analysts develop design specifications and software using Army life cycle methodologies and standards, including DoD-STD-7935A and MIL-STD-498. Avanco used a RAD development approach encompassing business area analysis, AS-IS and TO-BE data analysis, database design and normalization, DBA support, graphical forms and reports development, and end-user documentation, training, and help desk support. All development is in a distributed Sun SPARC 2000 environment using Oracle7, ORACLE tools including Developer/2000 and Designer/2000, SQL*Net, C, COBOL, TCP/IP, and COTS packages.

Back to Client List

Redland/Genstar Corporation

Business Problem – As the largest producer of quarried stone products, concrete, asphalt, and other construction materials in Maryland, Redland/Genstar Corporation has a solid reputation for quality products and services. Redland/Genstar is the largest producer of construction materials in Maryland and one of the oldest stone, blacktop, and concrete companies in the United States. Redland was recently purchased by Lafarge Corporation, the largest stone and quarry materials company in the world. Redland/Genstar wanted to be more proactive in their sales analysis in the face of stiff competition in what is traditionally a low margin business. In 1997 there was only one problem, the traditional corporate method of parsing through enterprise data structures within the corporate accounting system searching for market demand trends from structured reports was time consuming, complicated, and it wasn’t working. In order to maintain and increase market share, Redland/Genstar management knew that they needed more timely access to information and trend analysis. They also needed to put that information in the hands of their sales managers where it could be used to increase sales, improve the business, and lower overhead. Redland turned to Avanco International, Inc. for a solution that they could use to improve their competitive edge.

Avanco Solution - Avanco introduced and successfully implemented the first Oracle Data Mart Suite implementation world wide in response to Redland’s requirement. Avanco quickly sized up the companies’ information management needs and determined what data assets were locked up in the enterprise IBM based accounting system in Denver, Colorado. Avanco analysts developed a Star Schema database structure that mirrored the company requirements for data access and the business structure of the organization. To help its Sales and Marketing representatives analyze the customer base of construction and pavement companies and to eventually assess the efficiency of its distribution network, Avanco built a Data Mart that extracted data from the ES/9000 and AS/400 systems and integrated it, utilizing Oracle Data Mart Suite for Windows NT.  It fell upon the resources of Avanco in concert with Redland personnel to extract data from the corporate database structures, scrub and clean the data to enforce rigorous standards, and load the new Data Mart. Avanco helped Genstar load two year's worth of sales history into the system initially.  After loading the data, Avanco set up template reports and trained Redland/Genstar personnel in the use of the Oracle Discoverer ad hoc query and reporting tool. The Data Mart was successfully completed in six months within budget and on time.

Back to Client List

Defense Investigative Service

Avanco worked as a subcontractor to GRC on the Case Control Management System (CCMS) designed and developed for the Defense Investigative Service (DIS) using Designer/2000 and Developer/2000. Avanco assisted in the analysis, design and development of the CCMS to provide an automated method for collecting and disseminating data by the Personnel Security element of the DIS. The CCMS automates the current paper-intensive investigative process by allowing electronic interface with DIS field elements and national agencies. Avanco supported the analysis, final design and client server development using an Oracle database, SQL Forms 4.5, and PL/SQL 2.1.

Back to Client List

US Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service

Avanco provides a wide variety of technical administration services, database development, and web services to the Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries.  On an everyday basis, Avanco has provided technical support for problems that arise within the Division of Statistics and Economics, Office of Science and Technology computer center. Duties in the past have included administration efforts for the web site and IT infrastructure during routine office hours. Avanco has worked on-site to enhance and ensure that all software equipment patches and routines are up to date and efficient. Our personnel have trained NOAA personnel on methods to improve backup and recovery, patch hardware equipment, and improve software performance on the web. Avanco provides Unix, NT, and Web architecture administration, backup and recovery support, tape backup routines using Veritas Netbackup, Oracle startup and recovery and database administration, and general Internet administration support. Avanco has been involved with the Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries web development and eGovernment efforts from the early stages of NOAA's efforts to provide a web capability to its users.  Initially, our analysts performed an analysis of the proposed web site development effort and were involved with developing user requirements definitions, the high-level functional description of the proposed development effort, the web architecture, and data requirements definitions for proposed Database applications.   Avanco assists and supports the Fisheries staff in generating static HTML pages, FTP output files, WEB Counter Image software, GIF and JPG file manipulation, basic server authentication, and server and browser configuration.

Back to Client List

Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Avanco analysts conducted software design and development for an Information System (IS) designed specifically for medical research. Avanco assisted in designing the data model using the Erwin Design tool and developed reports and forms using Oracle Developer. Analysis of the Oracle database resulted in recommendations to normalize the database, improve table structures, and reduce response time.

Back to Client List

Cable and Wireless, Inc.

Avanco converted existing reports from SQL Report Writer 1.1 to Oracle Reports 2.5 and developed new tabular and graphical reports that capture network statistics and present critical performance data including bandwidth saturation levels. Avanco installed Developer/2000 software on VAX VMS and DEC Alpha platforms. Avanco worked closely with CWI to perform final acceptance testing and develop technical documentation.

Back to Client List

Fairfax Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Using PowerBuilder and ORACLE7, Avanco designed a unified medical and business information system for the Fairfax Neonatal Associates. Avanco designed a single ORACLE7 database incorporating all medical and business data and unifying all information processing and reporting, including diagnosis, procedures, medications, labs, billing, security, outcomes analysis, and statistics.

Avanco's advanced application and database design incorporate the latest OCX, Oracle, and PowerBuilder 5.0 technologies in an intuitive, full function design. Using distributed processing technology, business rules are partitioned from other system domains and all system components - visual and nonvisual - are implemented as objects, allowing the system to evolve rapidly to meet the anticipated information demands of health care reform.

Back to Client List

Ballistic Missile Defense Organization

Avanco provided studies and analyses to BMDO in the areas of foreign disclosure and international cooperative program support, including development of bilateral and multilateral memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and other international agreements.

Back to Client List

Naval Air Systems Command, Cruise Missile Project Office

Avanco provided Automated Information Security requirements and developed a Computer Security Plan, Risk Assessment Plan, and Computer Security Training Plan.

Back to Client List

Podiatry Insurance Company of America

Business Problem – Podiatry Insurance Company of America is one of the nation's leading Risk Retention services formed by and for Podiatrists to provide insurance coverage, risk management programs, and consulting support for Podiatrists nationwide. The company operates under a mainframe environment supporting Claims management, liability policies, and general online policy support. Management was interested in policy underwriting and claims trends from a profitability standpoint and the company was unable to support policy and claims trend analysis using daily online systems.

Avanco solution - Avanco developed a Decision Support system for PICA management using the Oracle Data Mart Suite, Oracle Discoverer 3i, and the Sagent ETL tools. Avanco developed a Dimensional database design and corresponding application environment developing table structures, constraints, relationships, and indexes to ensure adequate system performance. The developed application interacts on an ad hoc basis with a corporate Policy and Claims database on Windows NT that is downloaded and loaded nightly from the companies’ online productions system. Business Areas developed included Claims, Liability, and Payment Information, and a Certificate of Insurance that is available to member and the Board. Management can assess claims by customer and date and evaluate the profitability of individuals or practices. The system was well received by management and the work was done within cost constraints and on time.

Back to Client List

Rohm Electronics

Rohm Electronics was recently listed as one of the Business Week Magazine's Top 100 technology firms in the world. As the US distributor of electronic components for its’ Japanese Parent company, Rohm Electronics USA sells and distributes literally billions of resistors, transistors, and other electronic components to companies nationwide such as Motorola, Compaq, Dell Computers, and the big three auto makers. The sales staff for Rohm is chartered with a very aggressive sales quota and needs the best possible trend information and pricing available to them to ensure success. Not all that long ago Rohm electronics was unable to give their sales force even accurate pricing information. Understanding customers buying trends was difficult. The transactional system Rohm relied upon for reports and information was geared to getting data into the system and producing standard accounting reports. Trend analysis came from pouring through large paper copy reports and using manual Excel spreadsheet entry from those reports, a time consuming and ineffective method that management found cumbersome at best.

Avanco solution – Avanco performed a three week requirements definition and scoping effort where it was determined that a Windows NT and Intel based architecture would support a solid business decision support environment with the Oracle Data Mart Suite. Avanco developed a star schema design that included a separate table for the latest company product pricing, as well as a central fact table that contained information concerning individual product sales by salesman, by product and product family, by region, state, and customer, by date, and other criteria. Avanco then began the process of cleansing and scrubbing data and loading it into the central Data Mart. Fact tables were developed for direct and indirect sales so that Rohm management could gauge the effectiveness of their channel partners as well as their own sales force. Upon completion of the data load process, recurring load procedures were developed for future daily, weekly, and monthly loads of new information in the system. Lastly, all members of the sales force as well as technical staff were trained on site to use the tools and system provided. Avanco performed a "train the trainer" initial course and installed all software on each direct salesman’s laptop to ensure no problems would occur initially and that the project was well received by the principal beneficiaries, the sales staff. After the initial training, Rohm IT staff trained the other three regional offices. Avanco was tasked to perform on-call support and software upgrades for the first year after deployment of the system on an hourly basis. The project was completed under budget and on schedule.

      Back to Client List

SATO Travel

Business Problem - Sato travel provides contract travel reservations and arrangements for government agencies and individuals alike for business and personal trips. Sato has a number of contracts with the Department of the Navy and their Navy client is interested in knowing the frequency of travel, costs, current and historical flight information, invoices by airline, and other demographic and cost information. Data is embedded in Navy's legacy systems but is not easily queried trends cannot be easily determined.

Avanco solution - Avanco worked on a team of experts to analyze legacy structures and design the target dimensional data model. Using Oracle 8i and the Sagent ETL tools, data was directly extracted out of the AS/400 mainframe legacy environment and loaded into the oracle 8i database on a large Windows NT host computer. The Data Warehouse uses the Microstrategy DSS Agent 6.0 tool for ad hoc query and reports purposes. Avanco has performed requirements definition, Warehouse design, Warehouse construction of the physical schema and partitioning of the database, extraction, cleansing, and load of the data using the Sagent ETL tool, tuning of the Warehouse database and MicroStrategy queries, and metadata definition and Warehouse standardization procedures. Implementation was a phased approach with final deployment in December 2000.

        Back to Client List