Background

Situation

SONFOR is a utility company that provides critical infrastructure and services to their customers. With a new business strategy in hand, there was a need to assess whether Asset Management was the right way to realize the strategic goals. This included a particular focus on the need to data and system support their processes for asset-related tasks. SONFOR approached A-2 to gain deep insight into Asset Management and for assistance in addressing these challenges.

Challenge

SONFOR is facing an extensive build-up of new assets and phasing out of older assets. At the same time, SONFOR is experiencing external pressure to improve data quality and a business goal to become ISO 55001 certified. SONFOR lacked a clear plan on how to address these challenges and achieve their strategic goals through an optimal Asset Management approach.

Purpose

SONFOR wanted an assessment of how a potential Asset Management strategy could support their overall business objectives. The aim was to identify the necessary steps to achieve ISO 55001 certification and ensure that SONFOR's data and IT systems could support effective asset management. The project was to deliver concrete recommendations for data and system support and provide the company with a decision-making basis for choosing the right solutions for the future.

Approach & Results

A-2 prepared GAP analysis involving several key elements.

• Facilitating workshops where SONFOR's management team actively participated in identifying GAPs in their current data and systems. This ensured that managers were engaged in the process from the start.
• Using a highly participative facilitation approach to ensure that a unified leadership could see their own role in the change process. This approach created a sense of ownership among management and enabled them to actively contribute.
• Building a high level of trust between A-2 and SONFOR, which made the collaboration more effective and created a platform for honest and constructive dialog. The mutual respect for each other's competencies was a key factor in the success of the project.
• Conducting the GAP analysis led to a decision to use ISO 81346 as the basis for asset registration, and the initiation of the project to procure and implement a new maintenance and reinvestment system.

This methodological approach combined technical analysis with management involvement, creating a strong foundation for SONFOR's future asset management strategy and digitalization.

The result of the project was a completed GAP analysis that not only uncovered the necessary data and system supports, but also created a decision-making basis for future AM solutions at SONFOR. The company was able to quickly and efficiently decide on the necessary actions, which was supported by A-2's structured and trusting approach. The high level of involvement from SONFOR's management created an anchoring of the project results, which made it possible to create a momentum that the company had not expected.