Nastei Paints Page

1 ManagemenL lnformaLlon SysLems

Final Project Report


Group Members
Adil Mumtaz
Ch. Muhammad Abubakar Khalil
Humayun AshIaq
Hurriya Tazeen
Moiz Ahmed
Uzair AsiI

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bstract
Management InIormation Systems Help Businesses grow and deliver at a
much higher pace in today`s World. All the little and intricate operational tasks
leading all the way up to the most senior executive, decision making tasks could be
handed over to high-tech and speedy Management InIormation Systems. This has
helped businesses Ilourish and virtually go Irom rags to riches in no time. No
matter what argument you put Iorward, it is a well known Iact that manual labor
cannot always deliver to the same level oI reliability as MIS`s oI the modern era.
Some are designed to execute the most basic tasks, while others take up on
otherwise extremely mindboggling tasks. The management InIormation systems
discussed as a part oI our course include ESS, DSS, SAP etc. All these and more
like soItware protection programs which deIend the very core oI business data and
prevent them Irom Irequent unwelcome intruders in the shapes oI one time cookies
other spywares were also an integral part oI our Business Computing 2 Course.
Talking speciIically the basic objective oI this paper was to study the management
InIormation system currently working in Master Paints. This paper comprises oI
the elaboration oI main business processes, enterprise application at each level oI
hierarchy, soItware and hardware resources, communication networks, data
warehouses and security Iramework oI the company. This paper tries to explain
how the InIormation technology has helped master paints in achieving their goals
and what Iurther improvements could be made in the InIormation system to make
the company more eIIicient in achieving its goal.

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3troductio3
Master Paints Industries (Pvt) Limited is one oI Pakistan`s leading Paint
ManuIacturing organizations. Formed in 1975, the Ioremost objective oI the
company was to introduce modern paint technology in Pakistan. Soon aIter its
existence, it acquired a very sound position by attaining considerable market share
and soon became one oI the leading decorative paint manuIacturing companies in
Pakistan in terms oI quality.
Behind this marvelous progress oI the company, there are highly qualiIied
personnel who shaped the company into leading organization by virtue oI their
qualiIication and experience.
Master Paint`s R&D department remains in pursuit oI highest standards oI
quality, innovating and applying the modern technology in decorative paints.
Master paints Iortunately has a very dynamic team oI marketing and production
personnel who have been striving to keep the company as the leading one in
Pakistan`s paint Market. Now the consumers don`t hesitate to accept Master Paints
as the symbol oI Iull satisIaction
Busi3ess process
The main business process oI master paints is paint manuIacturing. The
paint production in Master Paints takes place in the Iollowing way as Iollow:
np:ts:
Paint is composed oI pigments, solvents, resins, and various additives. The
pigments give the paint color; solvents make it easier to apply; resins help it dry;
and additives serve as everything Irom Iillers to ant Iungicidal agents. Hundreds oI
diIIerent pigments, both natural and synthetic, exist. The basic white pigment is
titanium dioxide, selected Ior its excellent concealing properties, and black
pigment is commonly made Irom carbon black. Other pigments used to make paint
include iron oxide and cadmium sulIide Ior reds, metallic salts Ior yellows and
oranges, and iron blue and chrome yellows Ior blues and greens.
Solvents are various low viscosities, volatile liquids. They include petroleum
mineral spirits and aromatic solvents such as benzol, alcohols, esters, ketones, and
acetone. The natural resins most commonly used are lin-seed, coconut, and
soybean oil, while alkyds, acrylics, epoxies, and polyurethanes number among the
most popular synthetic resins. Additives serve many purposes. Some, like calcium
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carbonate and aluminum silicate, are simply Iillers that give the paint body and
substance without changing its properties. Other additives produce certain desired
characteristics

Paint canning is a completely automated process. For the standard 8 pint
paint can available to consumers, empty cans are Iirst rolled horizontally onto
labels, then set upright so that the point can be pumped into them. One machine
places lids onto the Iilled cans while a second machine presses on the lids to seal
the cons. From wire that is Ied into it Irom coils, a bailometer cuts and shapes the
handles beIore hooking them into holes precut in the cans. in paint, such as the
thixotropic agents that give paint its smooth texture, driers, anti-settling agents,
anti-skinning agents, deIoamers, and a host oI others that enable paint to cover well
and last long

an:1act:ring Process:
aking the paste
1 Pigment manuIacturers send bags oI Iine grain pigments to paint plants.
There, the pigment is premixed with resin (a wetting agent that assists in
moistening the pigment), one or more solvents, and additives to Iorm a
paste.
ispersing the pig2ent
2 The paste mixture Ior most industrial and some consumer paints is now
routed into a sand mill, a large cylinder that agitates tiny particles oI sand or
silica to grind the pigment particles, making them smaller and dispersing
them throughout the mixture. The mixture is then Iiltered to remove the sand
particles.
Instead oI being processed in sand mills, up to 90 percent oI the water-
based latex paints designed Ior use by individual homeowners are instead
processed in a high-speed dispersion tank. There, the premixed paste is
subjected to high-speed agitation by a circular, toothed blade attached to a
rotating shaIt. This process blends the pigment into the solvent.


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Thinning the paste
O Whether created by a sand mill or a dispersion tank, the paste must now be
thinned to produce the Iinal product. TransIerred to large kettles, it is
agitated with the proper amount oI solvent Ior the type oI paint desired.
anning the paint
O 5 The Iinished paint product is then pumped into the canning room. For the
standard 8 pint (.78 liter) paint can available to consumers, empty cans are
Iirst rolled horizontally onto labels, then set upright so that the paint can be
pumped into them. A machine places lids onto the Iilled cans, and a second
machine presses on the lids to seal them. From wire that is Ied into it Irom
coils, a bailometer cuts and shapes the handles beIore hooking them into
holes precut in the cans. A certain number oI cans (usually Iour) are then
boxed and stacked beIore being sent to the warehouse

O:tp:ts:
At master paints there are mostly 2 types oI paints. Following are the major type oI
paint output that is being produced.
Oil Based Paints:
Master Superior Synthetic Enamel
Master Super Gloss Synthetic Enamel
Master Synthetic Metallic Enamel
Master Matt Enamel (All Purpose)
ater -ased Paints:
Master luxury Plastic Emulsion
Master Weather Resistant
Master Super Emulsion


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Re-1inish:
Master Undercoat
Master Primer Red Oxide
Master Super Synthetic Clear Varnish
Master Texture Finish
Master Wall Putty
Master KniIing Filler

Level of Hierarchy

Master Paint is solely owned by Mr suIi amen who is also the CEO oI the
company. The company is divided into several level oI hierarchy. The Iirst one is
the board oI directors. All the important decision regarding company are taken in a
joint meeting oI CEO, board oI directors and head oI departments. Board oI
directors, in their meetings; chalk out the strategic plans Ior their company. For
example to a decision like introducing InIormation System into the company was
taken out by board oI directors. So this level oI hierarchy covers the strategic level
oI the company.
The next level is oI head oI departments. The company consists oI Finance,
Sales and marketing, Production and HRM department. Each department has its
head oI department. The HOD manages the overall activities oI his departments.
All the strategies developed in the BOD`s meeting are sent to all HODs. To
implement these strategies HODS develop tactics according to their own
departments. The HODs also present new ideas in the meetings with BODs.

Under the head oI departments are supervisors. The supervisors are like asst
managers. DiIIerent tasks in a department are divided into supervisors. Supervisor
controls one to two Ioremen who are basically in charge oI labor in production
department and clerks in Iinance departments. Forman and labor are present at the
operational level oI the company. The main transactions or operations are carried
out by the employee oI this level.
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3terprise pplicatio3

The company is using IT to increase its eIIiciency. Few years back the
company needed ERP soItware that could integrate the diIIerent departments oI the
company. For this the company contacted a soItware company with a name oI
Mezaan. This soItware company developed ERP soItware Ior Master Paints. This
soItware was developed keeping in view the needs oI the Master Paints company.
AIter implementing this soItware the company also made an online portal which
can only be accessed by HODs and BODs. This portal is protected by username
and password request. This portal helps the HODs to view diIIerent reports
anytime and anywhere in the world where internet is provided. Also main
announcements are uploaded on the portal. The supervisors or asst managers uses
computers at their oIIice to access main server and gather diIIerent type oI
inIormation. For example in Iinance department a computer can be used to access
the HRM department Iiles oI a particular employee through the main server.





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$oftware a3d Hardware i3 Master Pai3ts

As mentioned above the company got ERP soItware Irom Mezaan soItware
company. This soItware also contains diIIerent modules Ior diIIerent departments.
There is a Iinancial module Ior Iinance department. This soItware enables the
employee at Iinance department to manage diIIerent accounts oI the company. It
allows them to enter transactions and to generate diIIerent report with the query
wizard in the module. Such modules are also present Ior diIIerent departments like
sales and marketing, HRM and production department.

In hardware technologies the company has one main server which is connected to 5
Iurther servers oI respective department and also to SAN machine. The
departments have personal computers to enter diIIerent type oI inIormation. This
inIormation is stored in the main database oI the company. Reports can be
generated by running queries on the computers in diIIerent departments. The
Meezan soItware according to the query compares the data in the database and
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presents it in a report. The hardware also contains switches, server machines,
personal computers and Ethernet cables

ommu3icatio3 Networks

AIter developing a main centralized database, diIIerent computers or servers are
needed to be connected to that database to Iorm a network. In master paints an
Intranet network is currently working. This network basically is connected through
Ethernet wires in the main oIIice, where the departments are located near to each
other. The main oIIice is also connected to the Factory were production oI paints is
taking place. Warehouse, where the Iinished products and raw materials are stored,
is connected to the main oIIice. The connection among oIIice, warehouse and
Iactory is made through wireless connectivity. The main oIIice is connected to
internet thus also Iorming a extranet connection with the whole globe.


Data warehouse 3d Backup Pla3s

Master Paints has a SAN device in as the main storage device. A storage area
network (SAN) is an architecture to attach remote computer storage devices (such
as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes) to servers in such a way that
the devices appear as locally attached to the operating system. Such a SAN device
oI 6 terabyte is working as the main storage device. This SAN device is connected
to the main server and through it to all the computers in the company. The main
purpose oI this SAN device is to create mirror oI all the data present on all the
computers Irequently. So we can say that SAN device is acting as a backup plan
because when ever any computer in the company losses its data, it can regenerate it
Irom the SAN device. This device is also the data warehouse oI the company as it
stores all the data oI the company. The data is stored on the SAN device according
to its department. So in the data warehouse similar type oI data is stored in one
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place creating a data mart. Such data marts make the required data available more
quickly



Data Mi3i3 Tech3iques

The main database oI the company is managed by the main server. To generate
diIIerent reports several data mining techniques are used at the company. The main
soItware oI the company as mentioned earlier is the Meezan soItware. This
soItware is multiIunctional. To generate a report, a query is run on the soItware,
which then mines the central database to collect the inIormation regarding the
report. For example HRM department runs a query about total number oI employee
with 5 or more absents in a month and their respective Iinancial record at the
company. So the soItware will access the main database and look in the HRM data.
It will mine those employee with more than 5 absents, than it will search Ior their
Iinancial record in the Iinance department data. AIter that the soItware will
represent the report with a list oI employee with more than 5 absents and their
Iinancial record.



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$o1tware V:lnera-ilities and $ec:rity

A company like Master Paints, which is being managed through computers, is
always vulnerable to security threats and data leakage. As the company system is
also connected to the internet so it is vulnerable to diIIerent viruses, spyware,
Trojans and most importantly hackers that may enter the system and steal
conIidential inIormation or may cripple the whole system. To avoid these things a
security Iramework has been developed. To stop the data leakage all the USB ports
in the PCs are disabled. Firewall on the main server is used to Iilter all the data that
is going in and out oI the main system. This Iirewall restricts viruses and unwanted
content. Filters are used to block several websites that may be accessed by the
employee in the working hour. Employees waste company time in visiting these
sites that why they are blocked. Internet access is only allowed Ior HODs and Asst
managers, all other employees are allowed internet one hour in the morning and
one hour in the evening. File transIer protocol is also banned in all computers thus
restricting any uploading oI the data Irom company`s computer

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pplicatio3s for #M, $upply chai3

The company mainly sells its product to the retailers who then sell it to the
customer. So the company link with the end customer is very restricted. In CRM
the company has its own SMS server which send SMSs Irequently to the retailers
about the status oI their order. A website is also present to Iacilitate the customer in
gaining inIormation about company and its products. A new Ieature has been
introduced according to which a customer can upload a picture oI his room and the
company`s designer will paint that picture Ior the customer thus advising the
customer in selecting paint Ior his room. Another service that is being provided on
the website is oI paint calculator. A customer can calculate the total amount oI
paint required to cover the walls by submitting the dimensions oI the room

The supply chain system is not that developed in the company. The reason is
that the company Iunctions according to the projected sales devised by the Sales
and Marketing department. The Sales and Marketing department propose a
quarterly report Iorecasting the sales oI the next quarter. This report is sent to
production department and Planning department. The planning department than
calculate the total raw material needed to produce the total products. It then orders
the raw material and may also order additional raw material Ior emergency orders.

The Meezan soItware provides diIIerent Iunctions to diIIerent departments. Like
Iinance department has its own database. As a retailer makes an order the Iinance
department through soItware checks the account oI that retailer. II the retailer has
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less credit than his order than the order is not processed Iurther and the retailer is
notiIied to pay his credit Ior the order. Similarly Sales and Marketing department
uses this soItware to Iorecast the sales oI next quarter by using the old sales Data.
With the sales Data oI the previous years the department can easily evaluate which
paint is more demanded and which one is selling less. This analysis helps the
allocative production oI the company.

ommerce a3d Value added services

Master Paints sells its product through retailers. That`s why e-commerce is not
been carried out. Most oI the retailers place their order through phone call or Fax.
Although the company has its own site which is quite interactive. This website has
all the inIormation about the company and its product. The website oIIers color
advisory and paint calculation as mentioned earlier. A recent development has
taken place; the retailers now sometime place their order through e-mails.


dva3taes of $
The raw material management has become eIIicient
Research oI new shades through the use oI sales analysis
Order delivery has become more quick
Credit recovery has become more quick
Increased communication with clients
Better Ilow oI inIormation within the departments and between diIIerent
departments
Better management
"uick and reliable Decisions


o3clusio3

The 21
st
century has brought computer revolution with itselI. Huge companies like
Master paints in developed countries are now extensively using IT in every
department. Master paints also moved Iorward by taking help Irom IT. The
company has increased its eIIiciency and a proIit throughout the years by
implementing IS in their organization. In Pakistan many Multinational paint
companies are giving a tough competition to Master Paints. To survive in this
competitive market Master paints have computerized their organization. This
process has shown its results as the market share oI Master paints is increasing
steadily. Moreover Master Paints is known Ior its Business ethics and high quality
products.

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#ecomme3datio3s

The process oI computerization has been very IruitIul Ior the company but it needs
Iurther improvements which are as Iollow:

The soItware should be regularly upgraded
E-commerce should be promoted by creating awareness among retailers
Supplies oI raw material should also be digitally managed
Technical staII should be sent Ior Iurther training
An online network should be established to connect with retailers more
swiItly
SoItware applications Ior warehouse(inventory Control) and production
department should also be developed to make the business process Iurther
eIIicient