Reference no: EM133482349

Case scenario: Mark has asked that you tell him what components he will need to support his "Expansion Plan." In addition to creating more 3D printed products, he needs to be able to manage his customer orders, supplies, employees, etc. He wants to replace his spreadsheet of customer orders with a small business enterprise resource management (ERP) information system in his facility to help him manage his business effectively. Review the section of the Case Study entitled "Mark's Expansion Plan" and the additional information provided below to identify all of the requirements Mark has laid out. He wants you to tell him what components he will need and what they do.

Mark has also asked for a diagram that shows how the components you identify will be set up and connected to create his local area network in the 3D printing facility. In order to streamline the diagram, Mark has provided the following description of his facility and his operation:

The facility in the industrial park that I am currently using has a manager's office, a large supply storage area, a loading dock, and a large open area where the 3D printing operation occurs. When supplies are unloaded and put into the storage area, I would like for my employees to be able to update the inventory system (which would be a part of the ERP system). When an employee takes supplies from the storage area to be used in the printing and packaging processes, I want them to update the inventory system. I currently accept customers' orders via the telephone and email .My FiOS internet connection drop is in my office area. When I get the ERP system, I want to be able to enter the customer orders into the ERP system. I also need to use the ERP to store my employee records and to have payroll information. Finally, I also want to keep all my financial records (orders, invoices, etc.) in the ERP. As I said earlier (in the Case Study), I want my employees to be able to access the 3D printing systems through a mobile device of some sort so they can move around the facility.

On the diagram, he would like you to designate where the components you listed will be located in his facility - which items will be in his office, which will be elsewhere in the facility, and which ones will be used by employees as they move around the facility.

Assignment:
This assignment has two parts:

Question 1. Future IT infrastructure - Mark has two fundamental IT needs for his business. He needs to be able to create the 3D printed products and he needs to be able to manage customer orders, supplies, employees, etc. To help him understand each component, including those he already has in place, you will organize using this below

a. List and describe the components (hardware, software, security devices, network devices, wired/wireless devices, internet, and databases, as appropriate) needed for the computer system(s) to be used to create the 3D printed items.

b. List and describe the components (hardware, software, security devices, network devices, wired/wireless devices, internet, and databases, as appropriate) Mark will need to implement a small business enterprise resource management (ERP) information system in his facility to help him manage his business effectively. Some of these will be the same as some components listed for the 3D system.

c. Explain the relationships among the 3D computer system, the information system, and the communication networks that support both types of systems and how they fit together to provide Mark all the IT capability he needs to run his business.

Question 2. Create one or two original graphical representations of your specific technology solution. Include all the components listed in Part 1. The file "Example Network Diagram" shows the level of detail needed and provides sample icons for use in constructing your drawing, if you choose to use them. You may want to use icons from Free Network Diagram Software. You should include labels as to what each device is and what the purpose of the component is, e.g., router, switch, email server, database server, system administration PC, etc. The make/model/capacity/etc. of the devices does not need to be included - simply their generic device type (router, switch, server, etc.) and their function, if appropriate (email, database, etc.). You can innovate a single graphic to represent all of the systems, or you may innovate a graphic of the computer systems used for the 3D printing and a second graphic for the ERP information system and other systems Mark is using; the network components needed for each system should be included on the applicable graphic(s).

Below is the case study I mentioned that provides the framework for above

3D Printing Case Study

In late 2015, Mark Peterson acquired a 3D printer from Best Buy for $500. As he began to play around with it, he discovered that he could use designs he downloaded from the Internet to for wide variety of objects. One day as he was exploring designs on the website MyMiniFactory, he came across a category of accessibility items. He was very excited to discover such things as an umbrella holder for a wheelchair, because his brother Peter uses a wheelchair for mobility. He downloaded the umbrella holder design and made one for Peter. The first time Peter used the umbrella holder, several people came up and asked him where he had gotten it. Of course, he was proud to say his brother had made it, but he had no idea how much it would cost for Mark to make one for a customer. Peter took the names and phone numbers of two people he encountered and promised to get back to them. When Peter approached Mark with the requests, Mark knew that he had found the start of something good. He figured out what the time and material cost would be to make the holders, called the interested parties, and made his first two sales.

As he continued exploring, Mark ran across an article describing ten 3D printable assistive and accessibility devices. After investing in a heavy duty 3D printer, Mark used his Facebook page to advertise his growing business in 3D printing assistive and accessibility devices. He soon had many orders and his 3D printing hobby became his fulltime occupation.

Mark rented space in an industrial park, bought two more wireless 3D printers, and hired two part-time assistants. He brought his PC from home to control the 3D printers, and set up an Internet connection using Verizon FiOS. His PC is connected to a FiOS modem which has a built-in wireless router. Mark obtains his 3D printing designs from sources on the internet. He uses Google email and keeps track of his orders on a spreadsheet on his PC.

Mark's Expansion Plan: Now, just three months later, he is ready to add seven more 3D printers and a 3D scanner, and hire five fulltime employees. Before he grows that much, he needs to set up his IT infrastructure to manage not only the additional 3D printers, but also to manage his business. He wants to implement a small business enterprise resource management (ERP) information system in his facility to help him manage his business (customer orders, invoices, supply ordering, employees, etc.) more effectively. He realizes he will also need a document printer to print invoices, etc.

In addition, he wants each of his employees to have mobile access to the ERP system and the 3D design files and printers from anywhere in the facility, and he wants as much flexibility in which computers control which 3D printers as possible. He has a large collection of 3D print design files and has downloaded some training videos that he will use to train his new employees. Mark has already decided that he wants to store all of his 3D production files and his business management information locally in his facility, and to use cloud storage for his backup files.