National Semiconductor combines leading-edge analog and digital technologies to create highly integrated solutions for the information age. From complete systems on a single chip to high-performance multi-chip products and basic building blocks, National provides optimized solutions for the information appliance, personal computing, consumer and communication markets. National Semiconductor is an acknowledged leader in the design and manufacture of analog and mixed signal semiconductor products that provide access to the information highway.
National had sales of $2.1 billion in fiscal 2000 and about 10,500 employees worldwide. National has manufacturing sites around the globe. Its wafer fabrication facilities are located in Arlington, Texas; South Portland, Maine; and Greenock, Scotland. Test and assembly sites are in Melaka, Malaysia, and Singapore.
National is running VSAM, CICS/IDMS, IDMS/ADSO, and FOCUS programs on IBM OS/390 V2R4. Databases include VSAM, IDMS, FOCUS; programming languages include VS COBOL and COBOL.
National had just three weeks in which to provide Web access to their existing mainframe-based U.S. time card system.
At the same time, they wanted to simplify the process. Their users, who were not regular mainframe users, needed to:
There had to be an easier way!
The implementation of VisualConnect allowed National to quickly create a simple user interface for the time card system. In fact, they were able to automate everything in the process -- the users only needed to enter a user ID and password!
"It was easy to create the customized user interface without programming effort."
John Groves, Director of HR and Financial Systems, said "Even the toughest critics were complimentary of the new functionality. The rollout was done with zero formal training of end users. In short, this was a complete success."
National extended the useful life of the time card application by creating the simple-to-use interface. "We bought ourselves time to consider whether a replacement application is even needed."
"Our users are satisfied and we're no longer pressured to spend a significant amount of money to replace a working, but dated, application just because of a poor user interface."
While National used VisualConnect to update the time card application, the Marketing group was using using Novation™ to solve an information-delivery dilemma and generate new business!
National's Marketing management wanted to port their mainframe-based 'quote and order' functions to a Web site for access by the regional distributors.
Clearly, secure data delivery was the top priority. National selected Novation and VisualConnect to quickly Web-enable their existing mainframe 3270 applications without expensive and time-consuming programming changes.
"The VisualConnect tool is quite easy for developers to set up and use. The existing development staff was immediately able to begin creating the required user interfaces."
Obviously, National benefited from the ease with which the existing staff was able to begin using the VisualConnect tools. There were no time-consuming code changes, and no tedious user training sessions.
"The distributors are more responsive and more productive, because they can get the information they need to generate new business."
National is looking ahead to see how they can best implement some of Novation's more advanced technologies.
