Computerworld understands the sugar milling company plans to introduce a new ERP system in the next 12 months and vendors being considered for the deal include SAP and JD Edwards. Microsoft's Axapta software is also being reviewed.
CSR is currently completing the rollout of asset management software to support seven sugar mills in Queensland.
The software, dubbed Mainet, is being provided by Mainpac, which has recently inked deals with Golden Circle and Sigma Pharmaceuticals.
Mainpac's national client services manager, Roger Fielden, said CSR's sugar milling business unit is a beta test partner for Mainet and is participating with another super user in helping specify the functions of the new software.
Fielden said CSR is keen to embrace an enterprise-wide, regionalized approach to the management of its assets and to dramatically refine and streamline the way maintenance is undertaken.
CSR has an annual maintenance budget of around A$50 million (US$37 million) and employs an estimated 800 maintenance personnel.
The move to improve business processes and utilize IT in Australia's sugar industry has been under enormous pressure from international, low-cost producers, which is driving CSR's decision to improve business processes and make greater use of IT.
CSR's planning superintendent and project manager for the rollout of Mainet, Charles Derlagen, said enterprise-wide functionality to manage assets from a site, region or business unit wasn't available previously.
It follows a restructure at the company which led to staff working across multiple sites, and the integration of maintenance systems with commercial systems.
Derlagen said the management of work orders has been simplified and the choice of an interface based on a standard browser has minimized training requirements. CSR CIO Gary Vickers was unavailable for comment.